The Jacksonville Jaguars' top defensive player is changing his last name.
The team announced Tuesday that two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Josh Allen will change his last name to Hines-Allen to “pay homage to Joshua's maternal side of the family and the other relatives who have worn 'Hines' and 'Hines-Allen' on their jerseys.”
Hines-Allen’s sister, Myisha Hines-Allen, plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Sisters Kyra Hines-Allen (Cheyney University) and LaTorri Hines-Allen (Virginia Tech, Towson) also played college basketball. Additionally, Josh Hines-Allen’s uncle, Gregory Hines, was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1983 after a Hall of Fame career at Hampton University, while another uncle, Keith Hines, played basketball at Montclair State.
“The legacy is forever and I'm proud to wear that tradition on the back of my jersey, following in the footsteps of my family who has carried the Hines-Allen name with such pride and joy,” Hines-Allen posted on Instagram on Tuesday.
In a video accompanying the post, he said: “I've changed my last name, but I'm still that person. And I'll keep playing like that, playing even better.”
The Jaguars announced that Hines-Allen will host a jersey exchange for fans in September.
Hines-Allen, who recorded a career-high and franchise-record 17.5 sacks last season, was rewarded by the Jaguars with a five-year contract extension in April.
