DALLAS - Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 14-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, has passed away at age 52.
The Cowboys said Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico.
“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL,” the Cowboys said Monday. “His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner.”
Larry Allen
The former Sonoma State lineman was drafted in the second round by the Cowboys in 1994 and once bench-pressed 700 pounds as teammates watched him.
In 2013 he was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame.
Allen played 12 years in Dallas and two in San Francisco and entered the Hall of Fame about a year after his mother passed away.
Allen said before going into the hall, “Whenever I’d get nervous or had a big game and got nervous, I’d give her a call, and she’d start making me laugh.”
“The National Football League is filled with gifted athletes, but only a rare few have combined the size, brute strength, speed and agility of Larry Allen,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement. “What he could do as an offensive lineman often defied logic and comprehension.”
The Cowboys said, “He was deeply loved and cared for by his wife, Janelle — whom he referred to as his heart and soul — his daughters Jayla and Loriana and son, Larry III.”
“He could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting midgame or not dressing at all rather than face him, but that was only on the field,” the Hall of Fame said. “Off it, he was a quiet, gentle giant.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and loved ones.
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