NFL legend reveals emotional reason he’s quitting Tennessee to move back to California — despite slamming state’s soaring cost of living

A return to childhood California

Allen said he wants his children to have some of the experiences he enjoyed growing up in California. He recalled fond memories of the Bay Area and of a childhood that included access to both mountains and the coast.

He described skiing near Tahoe in the morning and fishing in Santa Cruz later the same day. Allen said his family was not affluent, but he remembers having many opportunities as a child.

Praise alongside cost concerns

Allen said California had become unaffordable over the decades. He recalled that gas cost little more than a dollar per tank when he first got his driver’s license.

He praised the state’s ocean, mountains, agriculture and food scene, and described its people as ambitious and inventive. Allen also called for lower everyday expenses, including car registration costs.

Allen’s life and career

Allen has lived in Tennessee with his wife, Amy Allen, and their daughters, Brinley and Lakelyn. He is returning to his native state, according to the promotional video.