Meet the NFL's youngest player, Jets RB Braelon Allen

The New York Jets and Tennessee Titans were tied 17-17 late in the fourth quarter of their Week 2 game when New York made a momentous game-changing decision.

With just under five minutes left in the game, the Jets decided to run the ball with their backup running back Braelon Allen instead of starter Breece Hall.

Allen’s gamble paid off. His offensive line opened up a huge gap on the right side, through which the Wisconsin product darted before finding his way into the end zone and giving the Jets a lead they would never relinquish.

This made Allen the youngest player in NFL history to score two touchdowns in a single game, a record that will be difficult to break given Allen’s age and the barriers to entry the NFL has put in place specifically to prevent players from entering the league at too young an age.

Here’s everything you need to know about the youngest NFL players for the 2024 season.

YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD: Should the Dolphins quarterback retire? Hall of Famer says: “It might be time”

Who is the youngest soccer player?

Braelon Allen is the NFL’s youngest player for the 2024 season. The Jets rookie is the only 20-year-old in the league, as he will not turn 21 until January 20, 2025.

Allen played his college career at Wisconsin and was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He ran for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns on 597 carries for the Badgers and established himself as a promising professional thanks to his massive 6’1″ and 235-pound frame.

Allen began the season as New York’s primary backup running back and is expected to play a few times in each game as a complement to the star in his third year. He became the youngest player in NFL history to score two touchdowns in a game in the Jets’ 24-17 win over the Titans in Week 2.

It’s not easy for young players to get into the NFL. The league has special entry restrictions that state that players must be at least three years out of high school to be eligible for the NFL Draft.

The goal of this policy is to ensure that players who make it to the pros are prepared for the physical level the NFL offers.

Of course, some players have found ways around these requirements to get into the league faster. The most popular way for players to get into the NFL a year early is to graduate from high school early and transfer to another year. But even then, the league’s barriers to entry have largely prevented teenagers from getting into the league.

But 20-year-olds like Allen? They are becoming more and more common in the NFL.

Youngest NFL players in 2024

Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime was the only other NFL player who was nearly 20 years old at the start of the season. He made his first appearance with the Denver Broncos on September 8, just two days after his 21st birthday.

The 25 youngest players in the NFL as of September 1 were all younger than 22 years old. They are as follows:

Braelon Allen, RB, Jets (20 years, 225 days)
Audric Estime, RB, Broncos (20 years, 360 days)
Nate Wiggins, CB, Ravens (21 years, 4 days)
Cam Little, K, Jaguars (21 years, 15 days)
Malik Nabers, WR, Giants (21 years, 35 days)
Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals (21 years, 42 days)
Keon Coleman, WR, Bills (21 years, 107 days)
Calen Bullock, S, Texans (21 years, 124 days)
Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs (21 years, 127 days)
Mekhi Wingo, DT, Lions (21 years, 137 days)
Jonah Elliss, OLB, Broncos (21 years, 151 days).
Jaylen Wright, RB, Dolphins (21 years, 153 days)
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Panthers (21 years, 158 days)
Blake Fisher, OT, Texans (21 years, 160 days)
Terrion Arnold, CB, Lions (21 years, 163 days)
Joe Alt, OT, Chargers (21 years, 186 days)
Trevin Wallace, LB, Panthers (21 years, 192 days)
James Williams, LB, Titans (21 years, 199 days)
Cooper DeJean, CB, Eagles (21 years, 206 days)
JC Latham, OT, Titans (21 years, 206 days)
Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos (21 years, 208 days)
Dallas Turner, EDGE, Vikings (21 years, 212 days)
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Texans (21 years, 222 days)
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, Chiefs (21 years, 227 days)
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Dolphins (21 years, 243 days)

PANTHERS: Bryce Young must leave Carolina to have a chance to revive his NFL career

Youngest players in NFL history

Pre-Super Bowl era

Jim Snyder is officially the youngest player to ever play in the NFL. He was just 16 years old when he played for the Milwaukee Badgers during the 1925 season. He played in just one game and his statistical performance is unknown.

According to Stathead, a total of 23 teenagers played in the NFL in its early years. This has not been the case since 1944, when 19-year-old Tom Bedore and 18-year-old Frank Santora played for the Washington and Boston Yanks, respectively.

Super Bowl era

Amobi Okoye is the youngest NFL player of the Super Bowl era. The Houston Texans selected him 10th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft when the Louisville product was just 19 years old. The defensive tackle turned 20 on June 10 of that year, but made his NFL debut at the age of 20 years and 91 days.

Okoye played six NFL seasons with the Texans and Chicago Bears, totaling 177 tackles and 16 sacks. He is one of only five 20-year-old players to have played since the Super Bowl era, along with Allen, Arthur Brown, Tremaine Edmunds and Kevin Jefferson.