Kyle Allen
Kyle James Allen (born March 8, 1996) is an American professional football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).[1] Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds, Allen is known for his right-handed throwing and mobility as a pocket passer.[2] Over his eight-year NFL career as of 2025, he has appeared in 34 games with 19 starts across multiple teams, completing 442 of 707 passes for 4,753 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions, while also rushing for 159 yards and four touchdowns.[1] In 2025, he appeared in three games for the Lions without starting.[1] Allen began his football journey at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he threw for over 8,000 yards and earned recognition as a five-star recruit. He enrolled at Texas A&M University in 2014, starting five games as a freshman, though his tenure was marked by inconsistency, including a benching after a poor performance against Alabama.[3] After transferring to the University of Houston in 2016—redshirting that year to preserve eligibility—Allen appeared in five games in 2017, passing for 751 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions, as the Cougars finished 7-5.[4] Across 26 college games at both schools, he accumulated 4,283 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions.[5] Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 draft, Allen signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he spent his first two seasons as a backup before earning starts in 2019 amid injuries to starter Cam Newton.[6] He recorded his first career win in a start against the New Orleans Saints on December 30, 2018, and achieved a career-high four touchdown passes in a 2019 game versus the Arizona Cardinals.[7] Traded to the Washington Football Team (now Commanders) in 2020, Allen started four games that year before injuries sidelined him, and he appeared in two more in 2021.[8] Subsequent stints included brief appearances with the Houston Texans in 2022 (two games), the Buffalo Bills in 2023 (seven games), and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 (one game), before signing with the Lions in March 2025 as a backup to Jared Goff.[9] Throughout his professional career, Allen has primarily served as a reliable reserve quarterback, contributing to depth on contending teams.[10]Early years
High school career
Kyle Allen was born on March 8, 1996, in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1] He attended Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, where he played quarterback for the Wolves football team starting as a sophomore.[11] Under his leadership, the team achieved winning records in his junior and senior seasons, including a 9-3 overall mark and 4-1 region record in 2012.[12] During his high school career, Allen passed for over 8,201 yards and 86 touchdowns, completing 542 of 814 attempts with 32 interceptions across 32 games.[13] He also contributed on the ground with 180 rushing attempts for 221 yards and three touchdowns.[13] In his junior season of 2012, Allen threw for 3,119 yards and 36 touchdowns on 202 completions out of 280 attempts (72.1% completion rate), helping the Wolves to a strong playoff push.[13] A highlight was his performance in key region wins that solidified the team's 4-1 conference standing.[12] As a senior in 2013, Allen completed 186 of 272 passes for 2,535 yards and 29 touchdowns (68.4% completion rate) with 10 interceptions over 10 games, adding 138 rushing yards and three scores.[13] The Wolves finished 7-3 overall and 2-2 in region play, with Allen's arm leading offensive outputs averaging 253.5 passing yards per game.[12] His efforts earned him selection to the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[11] Allen's high school performance garnered widespread acclaim, ranking him as the No. 1 quarterback prospect and a five-star recruit by major scouting services including 247Sports, Rivals, and Scout.[14]College recruitment
Kyle Allen emerged as one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2014 recruiting class, earning a five-star rating from 247Sports, where he was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 5 overall player nationally in their composite rankings.[14] ESPN also rated him as the top pro-style quarterback and No. 35 overall prospect in their ESPN 300, highlighting his strong arm, accuracy, and pocket presence as key attributes that made him a blue-chip talent.[15] These evaluations positioned him among the elite recruits, drawing widespread attention from top college programs seeking a potential franchise quarterback. Throughout his recruitment, Allen fielded scholarship offers from more than 18 Division I schools, including powerhouses like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Tennessee.[14] He ultimately narrowed his choices to a final five: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and UCLA, with additional strong pursuit from West Coast options such as Arizona and Arizona State.[16] The process was fast-paced, as Allen sought to expedite his decision amid growing interest following standout performances at events like The Opening and Elite 11.[15] On June 3, 2013, Allen verbally committed to Texas A&M University, becoming the 12th commitment in the Aggies' class and their fourth ESPN 300 signee.[15] His choice was driven by the appeal of head coach Kevin Sumlin's innovative spread offense, which had propelled the program to recent prominence, including a 9-4 record and Cotton Bowl victory in 2012 following Johnny Manziel's Heisman-winning season.[14] Allen cited Sumlin's quarterback development philosophy and the opportunity to vie for early playing time in a high-powered attack as pivotal factors in his commitment, viewing Texas A&M as the ideal fit for his pro-style skill set.[15] Allen enrolled early at Texas A&M in January 2014, integrating into spring practices as the crown jewel of Sumlin's 2014 class and the anticipated successor to Manziel at quarterback.[14]College career
Texas A&M Aggies
Kyle Allen joined the Texas A&M Aggies as a highly touted quarterback recruit and played under head coach Kevin Sumlin from 2014 to 2015. As a true freshman in 2014, Allen began the season as the backup to starter Kenny Hill but transitioned into a more prominent role midway through the year, appearing in 10 games and making 6 starts after Hill was benched. His emergence helped stabilize the Aggies' offense during an 8-5 season, where he demonstrated poise in high-pressure situations.[17] In his sophomore year of 2015, Allen solidified his position as the starting quarterback, starting the first seven games before being benched following a poor performance against Alabama, where he threw three interceptions all returned for touchdowns. He appeared in 11 games total, though the team finished with an 8-5 record. Over his two seasons, Allen appeared in 21 games total, compiling 3,532 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, with a completion percentage of 58.5%. Notable performances included 358 yards and two touchdowns in a 2015 win against Arkansas, as well as 277 yards and four touchdowns in a 2014 win against then-No. 15 Auburn. Another standout game was his first start against Louisiana-Monroe in 2014, where he threw for 106 yards and one touchdown in a 21-16 victory.[5] Allen's development under Sumlin's pro-style offense showcased his arm strength and mobility, but mounting competition influenced his future at the program. Following the 2015 season, with incoming five-star freshman Kyler Murray poised to challenge for the starting role, Allen announced his decision to transfer to another program to seek more immediate playing opportunities.)Houston Cougars
Following his transfer from Texas A&M, Kyle Allen sat out the 2016 season at the University of Houston due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules.[18] In 2017, Allen served as the primary quarterback early in the season, starting the first three games and appearing in five total for the Cougars.[4] He later transitioned to relief appearances as younger players like D'Eriq King took over starting duties.[19] In limited action, he completed 80 of 105 passes for 771 yards, throwing 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.[5] Allen was recognized academically, earning a spot on the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.[4] He also completed his degree requirements at Houston, graduating in December 2017.[20] After the 2017 season, Allen declared for the 2018 NFL Draft on January 11, forgoing his remaining eligibility.[21]Professional career
Carolina Panthers
Allen signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018, following the conclusion of the NFL Draft. He agreed to a three-year rookie contract valued at $1,710,000, including a $100,000 signing bonus. During the 2018 season, Allen primarily served as the third-string quarterback behind Cam Newton and Taylor Heinicke, spending much of the year on the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster. He appeared in two games, making his first NFL start in Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints, where he completed 20 of 31 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-14 loss, while also rushing for a 7-yard touchdown.[22] Allen's role expanded dramatically in 2019 after Newton suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in the preseason, which sidelined the incumbent starter for the entire year following his placement on injured reserve in November.[23] Allen took over as the primary starter beginning in Week 3, leading the Panthers to a 5-7 record across his 12 starts and appearing in 13 games total. In those contests, he passed for 3,322 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions on 303 completions out of 489 attempts, achieving a 62.0% completion rate and an 80.0 passer rating; he also contributed 106 rushing yards and two rushing scores. His early success included a franchise-record five consecutive wins to open his starting tenure without an interception, though the team struggled later amid defensive issues and turnovers. Following the 2019 season, in which the Panthers finished 5-11, Allen was traded to the Washington Redskins on March 23, 2020, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 148 overall).[25] The move came shortly after Carolina signed XFL standout P.J. Walker, signaling a shift in the quarterback depth chart.[26]Washington Football Team
On March 23, 2020, the Washington Football Team acquired Kyle Allen from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 148 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft.[25] The trade positioned Allen as a backup to starter Dwayne Haskins, reuniting him with head coach Ron Rivera, who had coached him in Carolina.[26] Allen took over as the starting quarterback in Week 5 after Haskins was benched following a 1-3 start to the season.[27] He started the next four games, posting a 1-3 record with 60 completions on 87 attempts for 610 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.[28] A highlight came in Week 7, when Allen led Washington to a 25-3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, completing 15 of 25 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant defensive performance that clinched the team's first win of the year. However, his tenure was derailed by injuries: he briefly exited his debut start in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams after a helmet-to-helmet hit but was cleared to return, only to sit out the second half.[29] More severely, in Week 9 against the New York Giants, Allen suffered a dislocated left ankle and small fracture early in the first quarter, ending his season after just five quarters of action and placing him on injured reserve.[30] The injury paved the way for Alex Smith's return from a 17-month absence due to a leg injury, contributing to Washington's unexpected NFC East title.[31] Entering 2021 as an exclusive-rights free agent, Allen signed a one-year tender worth $2.15 million on March 18.[32] He competed with Taylor Heinicke for the backup role behind starter Ryan Fitzpatrick but ultimately ranked third on the depth chart.[33] Allen appeared in two games without starting, entering in relief during losses to the Dallas Cowboys in Weeks 14 and 16. In those outings, he completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions.[34] His limited role reflected Washington's quarterback instability, marked by injuries to Fitzpatrick and Heinicke, though Allen saw minimal snaps overall.[35] Washington declined to tender Allen as a restricted free agent on March 10, 2022, effectively releasing him after two seasons of inconsistent opportunities and injury setbacks.[36] Over his time with the team, Allen appeared in six games (four starts), compiling 730 passing yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, while going 1-3 as a starter.[37]Houston Texans
On March 23, 2022, Kyle Allen signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Houston Texans, joining the team as an unrestricted free agent.[38] He was brought in to provide depth at quarterback during the Texans' ongoing rebuilding phase, which had begun in earnest under general manager Nick Caserio following the hiring of head coach Lovie Smith earlier that year.[39] The franchise, coming off back-to-back seasons with three wins each, focused on developing young talent like second-year starter Davis Mills while stocking the roster with draft picks and cost-controlled players.[40] Allen spent most of the 2022 season as the primary backup to Mills, dressing for all 17 games but not entering until late in the year.[9] He made his first appearance with the Texans in Week 12, starting in place of the benched Mills against the Miami Dolphins, and followed with another start the next week versus the Cleveland Browns.[41] In those two outings, Allen completed 46 of 78 passes for 416 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, while adding six rushes for 13 yards; the Texans lost both contests, finishing the year 3-13-1.[41] Allen's contract expired at the end of the 2022 season, making him an unrestricted free agent in March 2023.[42] He did not return to Houston, instead signing with the Buffalo Bills shortly thereafter.[43]Buffalo Bills
Allen signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on March 16, 2023, reuniting him with starting quarterback Josh Allen, with whom he shares a close friendship dating back to before the 2018 NFL Draft.[43] Throughout the 2023 season, Allen served as the primary backup quarterback on the active 53-man roster, providing depth behind Josh Allen while veteran Matt Barkley filled the emergency quarterback role mandated by new NFL rules.[44] His presence helped stabilize the quarterback room during a campaign where the Bills navigated multiple injuries to their starter, including shoulder and ankle issues for Josh Allen. Although Allen did not attempt any passes and recorded zero statistics in the regular season, he remained active for all 17 games, logging 38 total snaps, primarily in mop-up duty or late-game situations.[45] A notable moment came in the Week 18 finale against the New England Patriots on December 31, 2023, when he entered for two kneel-downs after Josh Allen briefly exited due to a shoulder tweak, helping secure a 27-21 victory that clinched a playoff berth.[46] In December, the Bills added Mitchell Trubisky to the practice squad for additional depth, elevating him for emergency purposes in the final regular-season games amid ongoing concerns about Josh Allen's health, but Allen retained his backup status. Allen was part of the Bills' postseason roster for their wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and divisional-round matchup against the [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City Chiefs), where Buffalo fell 27-24 on January 21, 2024.[8] As a reliable practice squad contributor earlier in his career and now a seasoned backup, he aided in game planning and scout-team simulations during Buffalo's Super Bowl-contending year, which saw the team finish 11-6 and claim the AFC East title for the fourth straight season.[47] Following the conclusion of his contract, Allen became an unrestricted free agent in March 2024.[32]Pittsburgh Steelers
On April 1, 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Kyle Allen to a one-year contract, adding him as veteran depth to their revamped quarterback room following his stint on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad in 2023.[48] Allen joined starter Russell Wilson and backup Justin Fields, serving primarily as the No. 3 quarterback to provide emergency support and contribute to practice reps during training camp.[45] In camp and preseason activities, he competed for reps, displaying confidence in the offense and helping foster team dynamics in a group that emphasized competition and preparation amid the Steelers' quarterback overhaul.[49] The initial depth chart listed him third behind Wilson and Fields, underscoring his role in maintaining stability for the position.[50] During the 2024 regular season, Allen remained on the active 53-man roster as a depth option but saw limited action.[51] He entered his first game with the Steelers on October 6, 2024, in a 20–17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, relieving Fields briefly for a concussion evaluation in the third quarter.[52] Allen completed his lone pass attempt for 19 yards to tight end Pat Freiermuth before Fields returned.[52] Following the 2024 season, in which the Steelers finished 10–7 and reached the playoffs, Allen became an unrestricted free agent as his contract expired.[53] The team did not re-sign him, opting instead to pursue other adjustments in their quarterback room for 2025.[54]Detroit Lions
On March 13, 2025, the Detroit Lions signed Kyle Allen as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract valued at $1.27 million, including a $100,000 signing bonus and a $1.17 million base salary.[6][32][55] During training camp and preseason, Allen secured the backup quarterback role behind starter Jared Goff, outperforming competitors such as Hendon Hooker through strong performances, including 7-of-8 passing for 120 yards in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons and additional efficient play in subsequent exhibitions.[56][57][58] As of November 16, 2025, Allen has appeared in three regular-season games in limited relief capacity, primarily in late-game situations during the Lions' 6-3 season, without attempting a pass but recording three rushes for -3 yards while supporting the team's offensive preparations.[59][1][60][61] In his role with the contending Lions, Allen has contributed to practice reps and scout team simulations, aiding the team's push toward the playoffs as a reliable No. 2 option amid Goff's solid play and the squad's NFC North standing.[7][62]Career statistics
College statistics
Kyle Allen's college career statistics encompass his time as a quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies from 2014 to 2015 and the Houston Cougars in 2017, where he appeared in 26 games overall. His passing totals include 358 completions out of 580 attempts for 4,283 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions, with a career completion percentage of 61.7%. Rushing contributions added 105 attempts for 132 net yards and 3 touchdowns, alongside 3 fumbles lost. These figures reflect his role primarily as a pocket passer with limited mobility, as documented in official records.[5]Passing Statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Yards/Attempt | Adjusted Yards/Attempt | Yards/Game | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Texas A&M | 10 | 118 | 192 | 61.5 | 1,322 | 16 | 7 | 6.9 | 6.91 | 132.2 | 139.5 |
| 2015 | Texas A&M | 11 | 160 | 283 | 56.5 | 2,210 | 17 | 7 | 7.8 | 7.90 | 200.9 | 137.0 |
| 2017 | Houston | 5 | 80 | 105 | 76.2 | 751 | 4 | 4 | 7.2 | 6.20 | 150.2 | 141.2 |
| Career | 26 | 358 | 580 | 61.7 | 4,283 | 37 | 18 | 7.4 | 7.35 | 164.7 | 138.4 |
Rushing Statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Attempt | Touchdowns | Yards/Game | Fumbles Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Texas A&M | 10 | 29 | 44 | 1.5 | 1 | 4.4 | 1 |
| 2015 | Texas A&M | 11 | 65 | 102 | 1.6 | 2 | 9.3 | 1 |
| 2017 | Houston | 5 | 11 | -14 | -1.3 | 0 | -2.8 | 1 |
| Career | 26 | 105 | 132 | 1.3 | 3 | 5.1 | 3 |
NFL statistics
Kyle Allen has appeared in 34 NFL regular season games (19 starts) through the 2025 season, which is ongoing as of November 16, 2025.[1] His career passing totals include 442 completions on 707 attempts for 4,753 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions, achieving a 62.5% completion rate and an 82.1 passer rating.[1] In rushing, Allen has carried the ball 68 times for 159 yards and 4 touchdowns, while committing 19 fumbles.[1] The table below summarizes Allen's regular season passing and rushing statistics by year and team (data sourced from Pro-Football-Reference.com).[1]| Year | Team | G | GS | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Rate | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Fmb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | CAR | 2 | 1 | 20 | 31 | 64.5 | 266 | 2 | 0 | 113.1 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | CAR | 13 | 12 | 303 | 489 | 62.0 | 3322 | 17 | 16 | 80.0 | 32 | 106 | 2 | 13 |
| 2020 | WAS | 4 | 4 | 60 | 87 | 69.0 | 610 | 4 | 1 | 99.3 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | WAS | 2 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 63.2 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 98.6 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | HOU | 2 | 2 | 46 | 78 | 59.0 | 416 | 2 | 4 | 60.6 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | BUF | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | -13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | DET | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | -3 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 34 | 19 | 442 | 707 | 62.5 | 4753 | 26 | 21 | 82.1 | 68 | 159 | 4 | 19 |