Jared Allen Says "Thank You" To Minnesota

With Jared Allen moving on to play for the Chicago Bears in 2014, he showed what kind of guy he is by releasing one final statement for the fans in Minnesota that have supported him for the last six seasons.

The statement was put on Vikings.com. Here it is in its entirety.

"I’d like to take a moment to thank my former teammates, coaches and the staff at the Minnesota Vikings for all of their inspiring work and dedication," Allen said in a statement. "Perhaps more importantly I would like to thank the fans and the Minnesota community. I can only hope that I have left with you all, with even a fraction of the positive support and impact you have had on my life, my foundation and my family. I am very excited about this next chapter in my career with the Chicago Bears and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. God bless."

In response, the Vikings released the following:

"We wish Jared the best as he turns to the next chapter of his NFL career. Not only was he an outstanding player on the field for the Vikings over his six seasons, but he also helped change lives in our community through his charitable work. Jared will always be a fan favorite, and we hope he stays involved with the Vikings franchise in years to come."

Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors has done a lot for military members that have been injured in the line of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also took a USO trip to visit soldiers in those locations a few years back. It really speaks to the kind of guy that Jared Allen is, and that we were pretty lucky to have him be a member of the Minnesota Vikings for six years.

Here's hoping that Jared Allen continues to have success going forward. . .well, except for the two times a year he lines up against the Vikings, anyway.