100 Days, 100 Detroit Lions: #93 Jimmy Allen

For this edition of 100 Days, 100 Detroit Lions, we travel back to the time of the Silver Rush, Billy Sims and a 80,311 seat monster called the Silverdome; where in 1980, this free-spirited, free safety, grabbed six interceptions and sang lead on one of the most famous novelty songs in Detroit sports history.

93. Jimmy Allen

Defensive Back. 1978-81 Detroit; 1974-77 Pittsburgh Steelers

Detroit was looking to replace their recently retired defensive backs Lem Barney and Levi Johnson when they acquired Jimmy Allen on July 20, 1978. It cost the Lions a fourth-round draft choice to get Jimmy. It would prove to be a bargain however as he would go on to lead the Lions in interceptions during his entire four-year stay in Motown.

“Spiderman” would grab, in order, 5, 4, 6 and 9 interceptions, respectively, in his four Detroit seasons. He is one of only six players in Lion history to record at least 9 interceptions in a single year. His Lion career total of 24 picks ties him with Joe Schmidt for ninth-place all-time.

The 6-foot-2, 194 pound Allen won two Super Bowls as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-77. He was the Steelers fourth-round selection in the ‘74 draft out of UCLA.

Oh, yes . . . and here is the aforementioned song.