Jared Allen had a great NFL career and is now looking to make a name for himself in another one.
Speaking to the New York Post, the former Minnesota Vikings superstar revealed that he has taken up curling, with he goal of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“I read the rules of curling, it was like the winners have to buy the losers beer. Most people start in their 40s, I was like, ‘Right up my alley’…
“You look at it and people go, oh it’s like shuffleboard on ice. I think for me, the strategic part was something that was very interesting. Obviously the physical side, I can learn physical things…
“But the dynamic of how to determine how hard to throw, tracking ice conditions, paying attention to all those little things … all the minute angles that go into it, that’s where I think the sport is really fun, and that’s where I think you see the best teams are the most consistent teams.”
The crazy part about Allen’s curling career is that actually began thanks to a bet he made with a companion. Allen told the Post that the wager was for him to qualify for a PGA Tour event, but the legendary story of “Eddie the Eagle” inspired the four-time All Pro defensive end to try out an Olympic sport.
