Vikings legend Jared Allen, other former NFL players earn upset win at Men's Curling Championship

According to an NBCSports report, Allen and his team's upset win over 2018 Olympic champion John Shuster on Sunday opened the event. The former Minnesota Vikings legendary defensive end started curling in 2018 and is a member of 2010 Olympian Jason Smith's team.

Allen and company beat Shuster’s team 10-6 in the first game of round-robin play. Per NBCSports, "after all eight teams play each other, the top four advance to Friday’s playoffs," and the victor of Saturday's final will be the national champion and is "expected to be the U.S. team for the world championship in Ottawa in April."

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the five-time Pro Bowler said before nationals that he is looking at competing in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

"I thought curling was going to be a lot easier than it was," Allen said. "But I’m one of those guys who, once I start something, I’m going to see it through. Our goal at nationals is to beat as many teams as we possibly can and see where we land."

While Allen used to play with Bulger, Bulluck and Roos, his current team includes Smith, who played on the 2010 Olympic team skipped by Shuster, Hunter Clawson and Dominik Maerki.