Robert Joseph Hallen is a former American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 player. He played high school football at Mentor High School where he was honorable mention all-state his senior season. He was a four year starter at Kent State University while starting 44 consecutive games. He was a first-team All-Mid-American Conference

Mid-American Conference

The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...

 choice in 1997 after switching to right tackle after three seasons at center. After his senior season, he was chosen to play in the 1998 Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama. He was drafted in the 1998 NFL Draft

1998 NFL Draft

The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...

 by the Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft (53rd overall) and went on to play in Super Bowl XXXIII

Super Bowl XXXIII

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...

. He played from 1998 to 2001 for the Falcons. He also played for the San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 from 2002 to 2005. He signed with the Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 prior to the 2006 NFL season

2006 NFL season

The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...

.

Hallen's career came to an end on August 11, 2006 when he announced his retirement due to ongoing problems with his back which he first injured in the 2001 season while playing for the Falcons.

Hallen announced his retirement shortly after he was named the Browns' starting center in place of injured LeCharles Bentley

LeCharles Bentley

LeCharles Vernon Bentley is a retired American football center of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.A two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Saints, Bentley was also a member of...

. Hallen had left practice several days earlier complaining of back spasms. Hallen notified the Browns of his retirement in a letter.

Hallen currently works on a fire department in the Greater Cleveland area.