By Devin Heroux
When the world's top curlers take to the ice for the first-ever Grand Slam of Curling event in the United States in early November, there will be not one but two sporting legends in the mix.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen and two-time Olympic champion John Morris will be dusting off their cleats and curling shoes to join forces, entering a team through a sponsor exemption to compete in the KIOTI GSOC Tahoe. Jason Smith, U.S. men's champion and Olympian, is the third member of the team. A fourth teammate will be announced shortly.
From the gridiron to throwing granite on curling's biggest stage, Allen is fired up. He believes his foursome is going to make some noise on the ice in Tahoe, and he's urging fans to get behind his team.
"There are expectations, so we don't have to play overly cautious, right? We're not out there playing not to lose, we're going out there to win. So, I think you're going to see some moments where we're going to be really aggressive," Allen said.
For Allen, this is a culmination of years of practising and playing on the pebbled ice, all leading to this massive international competition. From quarterback sacks — 136 over a 12-year career — to his first Slam, and Allen is pumped.
"I think we can be very competitive, to be honest with you. And I think you'll see that that's based on just our work ethic and the talent that the majority of the team has," Allen said.
The event is taking place at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Nov. 4-9. For many of the teams competing, it'll be a crucial stop in the curling calendar to prepare for Olympic trials and other key events throughout the fall, all leading to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Allen is no stranger to playing in big bonspiels. He formed the All-Pro Curling Team, competed in the U.S. nationals, and has defeated top-ranked teams in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
His curling journey began back in 2018 when he made a bet with friends to see if he could make the Olympics in a sport he'd never played before. The first idea was to take up badminton, but that didn't last long. Allen's focus quickly shifted to curling, and he's been hooked ever since.
He'd quickly learn it's not as easy as it looks while watching the sport on television.
"I started curling on a dare, but it didn't take me long to see how demanding and rewarding this sport really is," said Allen.
"I've played in Super Bowls and Pro Bowls in front of massive crowds, but the level of focus and precision curling requires is unlike anything I've experienced. Now fans in the U.S. can experience the same world-class competition I've grown to love, instead of waiting every four years to see the sport on the Olympic stage."
Allen is locked in to play lead throughout the event. Morris, who won Olympic gold for Canada in 2010 on a foursome and then captured mixed doubles Olympic gold in 2018, hasn't played competitively for several years.
That said, Morris couldn't pass up the opportunity to play on this grand stage alongside an NFL legend. He'll be skipping the team throughout the Slam.
"When you bring the best curlers in the world to a stage like this, you give fans a reason to fall in love with the sport," said Morris.
"I can remember watching Jared play for the (Minnesota) Vikings and thinking that he's such a force — such a gamer. I'm looking forward to seeing how some of that killer instinct translates onto the curling ice. Needless to say, I am pumped to be playing with him and Jason in Tahoe."
Allen is taking up this challenge seriously, just as he did whenever he stepped onto the football field. He's competitive and was only going to play in the event if he felt he and his team could be competitive.
Allen says they're going to make the most of this opportunity.
"Just extremely excited about this. Johnny, I mean, anything, his reputation speaks for himself, right?" Allen said.
"The next few months, it's just getting back fully into a practice routine. Playing lead, it's really about getting back into sweeping shape. So, I've been talking with (Team McEwen third) Colton Flasch to look at dates to have him come down and do some sweeping lessons."
This event is part of The Curling Group's larger mission to grow the game beyond its traditional strongholds. By hosting a Grand Slam in the United States, organizers aim to reach new audiences and inspire the next generation of players.
"It's massive, right? There's always an uptick around curling in the United States around the Winter Olympics, but we haven't had any staying power. Having a major event in the United States is going to be a really cool deal. Tahoe is a great destination place," Allen said.
"Make sure everybody comes down and checks it out and hope we don't embarrass ourselves."
The KIOTI GSOC Tahoe marks the start of a new chapter for curling in the United States, bringing world-class talent and competition to a region known for hosting some of the country's most memorable sporting events.
Weekend and full-event packages are now available at GSOCtickets.com, with single-draw tickets going on sale this Friday.
