Larry Allen, often hailed as one of the greatest players in Cowboys history and possibly the finest offensive lineman in NFL history, has died at the age of 52.
Allen passed away on Sunday when he was with his family on vacation in Mexico.
Who was Larry Allen?
Enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2013, Allen earned a place on the All-Decade teams for both the 1990s and 2000s. His NFL career spanned 14 seasons from 1994 to 2007, with the first 12 seasons played for the Cowboys.
Allen is one of only three players in Cowboys history to be selected to the Pro Bowl more than ten times, earning 10 Pro Bowl and seven All-Pro honors with the team. He concluded his career with the 49ers, where he earned his 11th Pro Bowl selection in 2006.
The memorial service arrangements will be done in the coming days said by the Cowboys.
Despite a rough start in Crompton, California, where he was once stabbed 12 times defending his brother, Allen overcame numerous challenges. He went through four high schools before landing at Butte College. Eventually, he flourished at Sonoma State, catching the eye of the Cowboys, who picked him 46th in the draft.
He safeguarded Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo and occasionally switched from guard to tackle in games. Allen played right tackle, right guard, and left tackle, but was mainly a standout at left guard, being named a first-team All-Pro six times.
In 2019, Allen was recognized on the NFL’s top-100 list, which ranks the best players in the history of the league. His feats of strength were legendary, including a remarkable 700-pound bench press in the Cowboy’s weight room.
He also demonstrated surprising speed for his size, notably when he chased down New Orleans Saints linebacker Darion Conner on an interception return in 1994.
Emmitt Smith, John Elway, Jerry Rice, Bruce Smith, Sanders and Peyton Manning are some of the names in those times which require only an introduction and Larry Allen wan one of them.
Allen’s record was impressive, with an average of just 3.2 sacks allowed per season, the best among his peers. He accumulated only 13 holding penalties in 207 career starts, including playoff games. Opponents were known to fear him, often experiencing “Larry-it is” before games.
“He was a Hall of Fame offensive lineman who dominated at every position he played,” Troy Aikman, said on Monday, his former quarterback. “Outside the field, he was a sweet big man who loved his family”.
Family Man: Larry Allen, a Great Giant
Spending a vacation with your family is the most memorable thing for one’s life, but it turned out to be a nightmare for Larry Allen’s family. He was in his 50’s when he left this world, leaving behind his wife, Janelle Allen, and three kids(Jayla Allen, Loriana Allen, Larry Alen III), along with a sizable net worth.
Larry Allen, the greatest player of Dallas Cowboys, was merely a family man. He also thanked his wife and children for his success during the Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
Playing for more than 13 years in the NFL, a super bowl title, 11 Pro Bowl selections, and six first-team All-Pro honors, its bit obvious that he left behind a $26 million net worth.
But it might give a slight surprise to his parents because Larry’s childhood years were full of obstacles. He was diagnosed with meningitis at six weeks old and almost died. At 10 years of age, he was stabbed 12 times by his neighbor.