Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Bruce Allen
Bruce Allen is the former General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He attended the University of Richmond and played football for the Spiders. He attended high school at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia.
He is the brother of former Virginia Senator George Allen.
After Rich McKay was relieved as the GM of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004, the Glazer family upgraded the GM position of the Buc's by hiring former Oakland Raiders GM Bruce Allen. Many Tampa fans were shocked by Bruce Allen's decision not to re-sign popular Buc players like Warren Sapp and John Lynch. Unpopular at the time, it turned out that Bruce Allen had the eye for talent as he and Jon Gruden had rebuilt the aging Bucs into a young team that looked to be building into another Superbowl contender! And why not? Winning is in his blood as his father is LEGENDARY NFL coach George Allen, most famous for leading the Washington Redskins into the playoffs consistently in the 1970's. His "win now" approach to the game had been forgotten (trade draft picks for established veterans to build a winner fast) because of the collective bargaining agreement now allows players to test the free agent market. In the 70's, HE was as close to free agency as it got!
Bruce Allen managed the NFL salary cap for the Bucs like a skilled surgeon. Many fans forget the DISASTER that Rich McKay left the team in as it relates to the salary cap. Bruce Allen had to endure the painful process of cleaning up that mess, and the losses that came with it. In 2007, Tampa saw the fruits of that effort as the Bucs won the NFC South and are contending to repeat in 2008! Go Bucs. Bruce is a GREAT guy and I consider him the premier GM in the NFL.
