Jared Allen, who played 1 1/2 seasons with Bears, makes Pro Football Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS — Edge rusher Jared Allen, who played in 18 games for the Bears toward the end of his 12-year playing career, was one of four players elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Allen had 5½ sacks for the Bears from 2014 until he was traded in the middle of the 2015 season.

He is better known for his six years with the Vikings (85½ sacks) and his six years with the Chiefs (43 sacks).

Allen admitted that his time with the Bears was forgettable — “I should have taken less money and gone to Seattle,” he joked — but praised them for trading him to his hometown Panthers, where he played in a Super Bowl and then retired.

“My expectation for Chicago was definitely different,” he said.

The three others named to the modern-era class were former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, former Eagles, Saints and Raiders cornerback Eric Allen and former Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.

Former Giants quarterback Eli Manning was not among the players chosen.