Paul Allen (sports commentator)

Paul Allen
Born	(1966-01-06) January 6, 1966 (age 60)
Sports commentary career
Team	Minnesota Vikings (2002–present)
Genre	Play-by-play
Sport	NFL football
Employer	KFAN (1998–present)

Paul Allen (born January 6, 1966 ^{[1] [2]} ) is an American sports commentator who has called play-by-play for the Minnesota Vikings since 2002. He is the voice of the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network and for horse racing at Canterbury Park. Allen has worked for Twin Cities radio station KFXN, where he currently hosts a morning sports radio show, since 1998. ^{[3] [4]}

Biography

Allen previously called horse races at different locations throughout the United States until he came to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1995. ^[5] Allen was both criticized and praised by Vikings fans for "ripping" into Brett Favre after he threw an interception in the 2009 NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints that ultimately kept them out of Super Bowl XLIV. ^{[6] [7]}

Controversies

2026 Minneapolis protest comments

On January 23, 2026, during the "ICE Out of Minnesota" general strike, a demonstration that drew tens of thousands of participants to downtown Minneapolis despite subzero temperatures, Allen drew criticism for remarks made on his KFAN radio show. ^{[8] [9]} During the broadcast, Allen questioned whether those marching in the -24°C (-10°F) conditions were "paid protesters" and if they received "hazard pay". Later in the same program, while discussing players "catching strays", he remarked that "paid protesters caught one out of nowhere this morning". ^[10]

The comments were described by the Pioneer Press as insensitive and mocking toward victims of local violence, particularly given the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti involving federal agents that had occurred in the city earlier that month. ^{[11] [ dead link ]} Following public backlash and calls for his removal by community members, Allen issued an apology on social media, stating: "I have to stop watching all this for a little bit. I'm so sad this terror is happening all around us here in MN. I just prayed to God's will for it to somehow stop and now and started crying. And no more cheap one-liners from me." KFAN also deleted the audio from Allen's show. ^[12]

References

1. "Minnesota Vikings". www.facebook.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
2. Allen, Paul (January 5, 2017). "Birthday dinner tonight. Birthday tomorrow.[...]". @paonthemic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
3. Graff, Chad. "Where the voice of the Vikings was born: Paul Allen's bond with Canterbury Park". The Athletic. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
4. "'Boom!' Clear your cards, it's time for Paul Allen Vikings game bingo". Twin Cities. November 24, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
5. Seroka, Scott (November 19, 2000). "About Dr. Mani H. Zadeh". Kare11 – NBC Affiliate. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
6. Warren, Paul (January 25, 2010). "Paul Allen Rips Favre During Broadcast". Off The Record. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
7. Rosenthal, Gregg (January 25, 2010). "Vikings radio voice lets Favre have it". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
8. Sainato, Michael (January 23, 2026). "Tens of thousands of Minnesotans march in Minneapolis to protest ICE surge". The Guardian .
9. WCCO Staff (January 23, 2026). "Thousands march through downtown Minneapolis protesting against ICE". CBS Minnesota .
10. Keeley, Sean (January 24, 2026). "Vikings announcer Paul Allen pushed 'paid protestors' conspiracy in Minneapolis". Awful Announcing.
11. Shipley, John (January 25, 2026). "Paul Allen, radio voice of the Vikings, mocks Minnesota protestors". Pioneer Press.
12. Simmons, John (January 25, 2026). "Vikings Radio Announcer Issues Apology Less Than 24 Hours After 'Paid Protestors' Quote". OutKick . Retrieved January 26, 2025.

External links

• The Paul Allen Project - KFAN Archived 2012-10-05 at the Wayback Machine