Early life Duane Allen was born in
Alhambra, California on October 21, 1937. He attended
Alhambra High School, where he earned All-Southern California prep football honors. Allen did not play football at a four-year college but was twice a Junior College All-American while attending
Mt. San Antonio College in 1956 and
Santa Ana College in 1960.
Professional career Allen was selected by the
Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the
1961 NFL draft. He was also courted by the
San Diego Chargers of the rival
American Football League (AFL). He was originally slated to play
defensive back at the time of his entry into the league, but due to his size and speed he impressed as an
offensive receiver at the Rams' 1961 training camp and was switched to that position. Allen ultimately spent seven years in the NFL playing for the Los Angeles Rams (1961–64), Pittsburgh Steelers (1965), and Chicago Bears (1966–67).
Life after professional football Following his retirement from the National Football League, Allen coached high school football and track and served as head coach of the
Las Vegas Cowboys of the short-lived
Continental Football League (COFL). ==References==