Seeking a postseason spark, the veteran defensive tackle ditches Minnesota’s defensive complexity for Cincinnati’s stability under center and a coach who matches his Saban-level intensity.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Jonathan Allen went on The Nightcap with NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, Joe Johnson, and Bengals all-time great Chad Ochocinco.
He touched on many different topics, but among the most interesting were his decision to join the Bengals, why it didn’t work out in Minnesota, and his goals for the upcoming season.
Allen had a long career with the Washington Commanders, making the Pro Bowl twice and posting five seasons of five sacks or more. The numbers haven’t been there in his last two seasons. Allen recorded 6.5 sacks in 25 games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Allen spoke on his time in Minnesota under respected defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He pointed to how complicated the defensive game plan was and discussed how quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s poor performance trickled down to the defense and affected Allen’s ability to be productive on the defensive line. Allen clarified McCarthy was in a very difficult situation, calling the NFL a great game but a dirty business.
The former Alabama defensive tackle said the Bengals having the answer at quarterback in Joe Burrow was one of the biggest reasons he chose to sign with Cincinnati. Ultimately, his new goal is to show his game can translate to the postseason. He has appeared in the playoffs twice: once in 2020 and once in 2024 with the Commanders, making a deep run into the NFC Championship Game with then-rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.
Allen said his initial goals in the league were to prove he belonged, then shifted to taking care of his family financially. He said he accomplished both of those things, and now wants to do everything he possibly can to help the Bengals win, whether it’s leading from the front statistically or doing the dirty, unnoticed work.
He even went on to say that Bengals defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery is the first coach since Nick Saban to have higher expectations for him than he had for himself, recognizing how he can impact the team in his 10th NFL season.
Allen is a dark horse on the Bengals' defense, as he was maybe the most under-the-radar signing Cincinnati made. Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe, understandably, got more press when they decided to join the Bengals, and obviously Lawrence will be ahead of Allen on the D-line. However, the veteran skill set Allen brings could be the key to the Bengals' defense truly turning it around. The interesting thing is that Cook, Lawrence, Mafe, and Allen have those sorts of leadership traits, and you may very well see how that experience can impact a younger defense.
