Hall Of Fame OL Larry Allen Dies At 52

Larry Allen, one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, died suddenly while on vacation with his family Sunday in Mexico. He was 52.

Quickly establishing himself as a cornerstone blocker for the Cowboys out of Division II Sonoma State, Allen played 14 NFL seasons. The powerful guard spent 12 years in Dallas before finishing his career with two seasons in San Francisco. The All-Decade guard soared to first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in 2013. No cause of death has been revealed.

“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 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.”

Allen’s dominance extended to the point he joined an exclusive club of players selected for two All-Decade teams, being included on both the 1990s and 2000s’ rosters. Working at both left and right guard, along with stints at tackle, Allen gave the Cowboys an unmatched anchor during his prime and kept up his quality play well into his 30s. Allen finished as a seven-time All-Pro (six first teams) and 11-time Pro Bowler.

Already forming one of the great offensive line nuclei in NFL history, the Cowboys added Allen to that mix in the 1994 second round. They chose the former junior college signee and two-time Division II All-American 46th overall, adding him to an O-line mix that included Pro Bowlers Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski and Erik Williams.

A Williams injury in 1994 thrust Allen into the right tackle role that year. After the Cowboys’ threepeat bid could not withstand another 49ers challenge, the team slid the ultra-talented blocker to his natural guard role. Allen spent 10 of the next 11 seasons as a guard starter in Dallas, with the Cowboys kicking him to left tackle to replace Tuinei in 1998. Allen’s Dallas career covered the final seven years of Troy Aikman‘s tenure and lasted through Drew Bledsoe‘s debut with the team. Allen earned first-team All-Pro honors for his LT one-off season as well.

“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. What he could do as an offensive lineman often defied logic and comprehension,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “He could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting mid-game or not dressing at all rather than face him, but that was only on the field. Off it, he was a quiet, gentle giant.”

Allen’s first season as a full-time guard helped drive the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl championship of the 1990s. That conquest finished off a season that saw four Cowboys O-linemen earn Pro Bowl invites; free agent center Ray Donaldson joined Allen, Newton and Tuinei on a front that helped Emmitt Smith set the then-single-season touchdown record (with 25). As the Dallas dynasty core pieces splintered, Allen remained with the team long enough to help Smith break Walter Payton‘s all-time rushing mark during the 2002 season.

The Cowboys signed Allen to two extensions — in 1998 and 2002; the latter deal was worth $37.3MM over six years. Allen played four seasons on that contract, being released in March 2006. The 49ers stepped in with a two-year deal, and while San Francisco was going through a down period, Allen earned his final Pro Bowl nod during his debut season with the team. Frank Gore‘s lone All-Pro showing — a season that featured the No. 3 all-time leading rusher amass a career-high 1,695 rushing yards — came during Allen’s first 49ers season.

In addition to Allen’s on-field accomplishments, he displayed the strength that gave defensive linemen fits by bench-pressing 700 pounds during an offseason Cowboys workout. During his final appearance as a Cowboy — the 2006 Pro Bowl — Allen repped 225 pounds 43 times. The NFL’s 2019 100th Anniversary team included Allen as one of the guards. In the post-merger era, only three O-linemen surpassed Allen’s 11 Pro Bowls.