40 Facts About Jonathan Allen

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Allen's journey began in Bethesda, Maryland, where his early experiences shaped his future in journalism and football.

1. 01Birth and Family: Born on October 15, 1975, in Bethesda, Maryland, to Marin and Ira R. Allen, a reporter for United Press International.
2. 02Siblings: He is the first of two children, with a younger sister named Amanda.
3. 03Education: Attended Walter Johnson High School, following in his mother's footsteps.
4. 04Interest in Journalism: His parents' discussions about political news sparked his interest in journalism from a young age.

Early Career in Journalism

Allen's passion for journalism took root during his high school years, setting the stage for his future career.

5. 05High School Journalism: Began writing for the school newspaper as a sports reporter.
6. 06Sports Reporting: Covered high school football games, captained the It's Academic team, participated in school plays, and pitched for the baseball team.
7. 07Local Newspaper: Contributed to The Gazette, a local newspaper, expanding his writing experience.
8. 08College Education: Attended St. Mary's College of Maryland in the mid-1990s, playing as a pitcher on the baseball team and working as a sports reporter for the university's Point News.
9. 09Transfer to University of Maryland: Transferred to the University of Maryland, joining the staff of The Diamondback, the student newspaper.
10. 10Graduation: Graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics.

Career in Journalism

Jonathan Allen's career in journalism saw him rise through the ranks, taking on various roles and gaining recognition.

11. 11Early Jobs: Briefly worked at the local Prince William Journal before joining Congressional Quarterly in 2000 as a copy editor.
12. 12Rise to Congressional Reporter: Volunteered on weekends for smaller stories, eventually becoming a congressional reporter by 2002.
13. 13Move to The Hill: Left Congressional Quarterly in 2005 for The Hill as a U.S. Senate reporter, returning to Congressional Quarterly a year later.
14. 14Merger and Layoff: Congressional Quarterly merged with Roll Call in 2009, leading to Allen and 43 others being laid off.
15. 15Hiring by Politico: Joined Politico on a fixed-term contract but declined to extend his stint in favor of political work.

Political Career

Allen briefly ventured into politics, but his true calling remained in journalism.

16. 16Political Work: Worked for Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz as executive director of Democrats Win Seats, a political action committee.
17. 17Return to Journalism: Rejoined Politico in February 2010, eventually becoming White House bureau chief.

Current Role in Journalism

Today, Jonathan Allen continues to make significant contributions to journalism as a senior political analyst.

18. 18Senior Political Analyst: Since 2017, he has been a senior political analyst and political reporter for NBC News Digital.
19. 19Contributions to Other Outlets: Reported for Congressional Quarterly, The Hill, Politico, Bloomberg News, and Vox.
20. 20Best-Selling Books: Co-authored two best-selling books on Hillary Clinton with fellow political correspondent Amie Parnes.
21. 21Awards and Recognition: Won the Everett Dirksen Award and Sandy Hume Award in 2008.
22. 22Media Appearances: Appeared as a commentator on political talk shows like Hardball with Chris Matthews and Meet the Press.
23. 23Teaching Experience: Served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University.

Jonathan Allen the Football Player

Jonathan Allen, the football player, has made a name for himself in the NFL as a defensive tackle.

24. 24Birth and Family: Born on January 16, 1995, in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
25. 25College Football: Played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning a national championship in 2015 and several defensive player of the year awards in 2016.
26. 26NFL Draft: Selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
27. 27Professional Career: Has played as a defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders since 2017, making two Pro Bowls and being ranked 52nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.

Career Statistics

Jonathan Allen's impressive stats highlight his impact on the field.

28. 28Games Played: As of the 2023 season, he has played 101 games in his NFL career.
29. 29Sacks: Recorded 42 sacks over his career, with a high of 8.5 sacks in a single season in 2021.
30. 30Tackles: Accumulated 382 total tackles, with 225 solo tackles and 157 assists.
31. 31Interceptions: Has one interception in his career, recorded in the 2022 season against the Chicago Bears.
32. 32Fumbles Recovered: Recovered two fumbles in his career, both in the 2020 season.

Notable Seasons

Allen's standout seasons demonstrate his consistent performance and growth as a player.

33. 332018 Season: Started all 16 games, recording eight sacks, 61 total tackles, and 15 quarterback hits.
34. 342019 Season: Started in 15 games, finishing with six sacks, 68 total tackles (46 solo), one pass defended, one fumble recovery, and one safety.
35. 352020 Season: Finished with two sacks, 63 total tackles (36 solo), one fumble recovery, and one safety.
36. 362021 Season: Set a new career high of 8.5 sacks in a single season, recorded his first career interception and first career forced fumble.
37. 372022 Season: Voted into his second consecutive Pro Bowl and ranked 52nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
38. 382023 Season: Started 16 games, finishing with 5.5 sacks, 53 total tackles (30 solo), and one pass defended.

Contract and Injuries

Jonathan Allen's career has seen significant milestones, including contract extensions and overcoming injuries.

39. 39Contract Extension: Signed a four-year contract extension worth $72 million on July 27, 2021.
40. 40COVID-19 Reserve List: Placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on December 13, 2021, but returned to the active roster five days later.

Jonathan Allen: A Life of Versatility

Jonathan Allen's journey showcases a blend of journalism and professional football. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, he developed an early passion for journalism, influenced by his parents. His career in journalism saw him rise from high school sports reporter to senior political analyst for NBC News Digital. Along the way, he earned accolades and authored best-selling books.

On the football field, another Jonathan Allen emerged as a defensive powerhouse for the Washington Commanders. Born in Stone Mountain, Georgia, he excelled at Alabama before making his mark in the NFL. With multiple Pro Bowl selections and impressive stats, his impact is undeniable.

Both Jonathan Allens exemplify dedication and success in their respective fields. Whether through insightful political analysis or dominant defensive plays, their stories inspire. Their achievements remind us that passion and hard work can lead to remarkable accomplishments.