NFL legend Jared Allen is relocating from his Tennessee ranch back to his home state of California, aiming to provide his two daughters with the same childhood experiences he cherished.
Allen, a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, stated his desire for his children to "experience the California that I experienced growing up." He fondly recalls his youth in the Bay Area, where he could ski in Tahoe in the morning and fish in Santa Cruz in the evening. The retired athlete noted the significant change in the cost of living, remembering when "a tank of gas wasn’t much more than a dollar" when he first obtained his driver's license.
"I grew up on a rein-cut horse ranch. It wasn’t like we were affluent and had endless means,” Allen said, emphasizing that his family was able to afford a wide range of experiences. He highlighted California's diverse offerings, including the ocean, mountains, agriculture, and a vibrant food scene. Allen expressed a desire for his children to be surrounded by the "go-getters, of doers, of innovators" he remembers from his upbringing.
Allen, who currently resides in Tennessee with his wife, Amy Allen, and their daughters Brinley and Lakelyn, also voiced hopes for a more common-sense approach to everyday expenses in California. "Let’s make our car registration the same as what everybody else is paying around the country. No matter what political party you’re affiliated with, you have those everyday expenses that we’re trying to lower,” he urged.
Allen was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft and announced his retirement in February 2016. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.