Larry Allen, a legendary player for the Dallas Cowboys and widely considered to be the finest interior offensive lineman in the history of the National Football League, passed away recently.
Allen had been on vacation with his family in Mexico when he passed suddenly on Sunday, according to the announcement made by the club on Monday. The circumstances surrounding his loss were not disclosed any further.
“The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family,” according to a statement released by the Cowboys, “and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry.”
Allen seemed to be just 52 years old.
Having been selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the draft in 1994, the future Hall of Famer joined the club, and he soon established himself as one of the most talented players on the squad not long after his arrival. All-Pro accolades were bestowed upon him six times during his first eight seasons with the star on his helmet, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.
However, it did not take long for Allen to become a fan favorite as well, particularly once fans discovered that he was capable of bench pressing 700 pounds.
Over the course of his career, he spent a total of twelve years playing for Dallas, during which time he started 170 games across the offensive line. His last season in the National Football League was spent in San Francisco, where he played for the 49ers for two more seasons until retiring from the league after the 2007 season.
Allen, who was a member of the Dallas Cowboys and won one Super Bowl with the team, was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Cowboys Ring of Honor not long after he retired from the sport.
“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 Cowboys said in their statement.
