After the name change, there is now only one Josh Allen in the NFL

The NFL’s response to Abbott and Costello’s iconic “Who’s on First” joke has been removed.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen announced on social media Tuesday morning that he will change his name to “Joshua Hines-Allen” ahead of the 2024 NFL season in honor of his maternal side of the family. Myisha Hines-Allen, Joshua’s sister who plays forward for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, has long worn the last name “Hines-Allen” on the back of her jerseys.

Related: Bills QB Josh Allen Ranks Among NFL Elite In This Impressive Rushing Stat

The name change is notable not only because of the pass-rusher’s stature in the NFL (the reigning Pro Bowler is coming off a 2023 season in which he recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks), but also because he previously shared a name with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The similarities between the two were coincidental to the point of being eerie: In addition to sharing the same name, they were both selected No. 7 overall in back-to-back NFL drafts (in 2018 and 2019).

The two players have faced each other twice in their professional careers, with the defender’s team winning each meeting. Hines-Allen recorded a sack and an interception in Jacksonville’s 2021 victory before recording a tackle in their 2023 meeting.

This change, made for a truly heartwarming reason, will also allow each player to cement his own legacy and no longer be intrinsically linked to one another. Allen, with his NFL-record four consecutive seasons of 40-plus total touchdowns, and Hines-Allen, with his 45 sacks, are objectively two of the best in the league at their respective positions; football fans in general will now be able to talk about them individually without inherently mentioning the other.

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