JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars will have familiar face with a new name lining up on the edge this season.
On Tuesday, the Jaguars defensive end announced that he was legally changing his last name and will go by Josh Hines-Allen now. It’s a nod to his family’s history on his mother’s side. Numerous family members have used the Hines or the Hines-Allen name during their athletic careers.
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“Legacy is forever, and I’m proud to carry that tradition on the back of my jersey, following in the footsteps of my family, who have donned the Hines-Allen last name with so much pride and joy,” he said in a post from the team. “My last name has been changed, but I’m still that person. And I will continue to play like it, play even better.”
The move will also end the confusion when referencing the Jaguars edge player and the Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Hines-Allen is coming off the best defensive season in franchise history. He had a franchise-record 17.5 sacks and was signed to a massive contract extension this offseason. He’s a first-round pick who excelled and earned a second deal from the Jaguars, something that the franchise has struggled to do. Jacksonville drafted Hines-Allen seventh overall out of Kentucky in 2019.
He has 45 sacks in five seasons and could eclipse franchise career sack leader Tony Brackens (55) this season.
𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀-𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻
— Joshua Hines-Allen (@JoshHinesAllen) July 9, 2024
Legacy is forever, and I'm proud to carry that tradition on the back of my jersey, following in the footsteps of my family, who have donned the Hines-Allen last name with so much pride and joy. pic.twitter.com/8wAaj2hhpS
Hines-Allen’s sisters have used the hyphenated last name, including Myisha Hines-Allen, who is a star with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Two other sisters, Kyra (Cheyney University) and LaTorri (Virginia Tech and Towson), both used the Hines-Allen surname when they played in college. His uncles, Gregory Hines, was a fifth-round pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1983, and Keith played college basketball at Montclair State.
For those fans who have No. 41 jerseys with his old last name, don’t worry. The Jaguars said that he will host an event in September for fans to exchange their Allen jerseys for Hines-Allen jerseys.