Cowboys Hall of Famer Larry Allen Dies Suddenly at 52

Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen died suddenly Sunday while vacationing with his family in Mexico, the team announced Monday.

He was 52 years old.

“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected and accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. His versatility and dependability were also hallmarks of his “Through this, he continued to serve as an inspiration to many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner,” the team said in a statement.

“He was deeply loved and cared for by his wife, Janelle — whom he called his heart and soul — his daughters Jayla and Loriana and his son Larry III. The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences , their thoughts and prayers to the Allen family and mourn with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates who also loved Larry.”

The Cowboys said arrangements for the memorial service would be announced in the near future.

Allen was a second-round draft 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 49ers from San Francisco. .

Allen overcame a difficult upbringing in Compton, California. He has already been stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He attended four different high schools before attending Butte College. He then played at Sonoma State where the Cowboys found the raw but talented Allen and took him with the 46th pick.

He protected Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo and once switched from guard to tackle during games. He played right tackle, right guard and left tackle, but mostly played left guard and was a six-time first-team All-Pro. He was named to the All-Decade team for the 2000s.

His feats of strength in the Cowboys weight room were legendary, once on a 700-pound bench. His speed for his size amazed many, including chasing down New Orleans Saints linebacker Darion Conner on an interception return in 1994.