-
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen died suddenly Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico, the team announced Monday.
He was 52.
“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 team said in a statement. “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.
“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. The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry.”
The Cowboys said memorial service arrangements will be announced in the near future.
Allen was a second-round pick out of Sonoma State in 1994 and quickly became one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL.
He was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He played for the Cowboys from 1994 to 2005, winning a Super Bowl in 1995. He spent his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Allen overcame a challenging upbringing in Compton, California. He was once stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He attended four different high schools before going to Butte College. He later starred at Sonoma State, where the Cowboys found the raw but talented Allen and drafted him with the 46th pick.
He protected Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo and once shifted from guard to tackle in games. He played right tackle, right guard and left tackle but mostly starred at left guard and was a first-team All-Pro six times.
“Just received the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved teammate Larry Allen,” Aikman posted to X on Monday. “He was a HOF offensive lineman that dominated opponents regardless of the position played. Off the field, he was a gentle giant that loved his family. Rest in Peace LA.”
Former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith said in a video posted to Instagram that the news of Allen’s death “just breaks my heart.”
“I’m at a loss of words right now. Such a good dude, great player, super person,” Smith said.
He added: “The one thing about Larry Allen, I know. He had a big heart and he lived life to the fullest. A man of very few words but on the football field was a beast. And [he] will be sorely missed.”
Allen was named in 2019 to the NFL’s top-100 list in 2019, which ranked the best players in league history. He also was chosen for the All-Decade teams for both the 1990s and 2000s and is one of just three players to be named to both teams, joining Willie Roaf and Warren Sapp, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
His feats of strength in the Cowboys’ weight room were legendary, including once bench-pressing 700 pounds. He astounded many with his speed for his frame, as when he chased down New Orleans Saints linebacker Darion Conner on an interception return in 1994.