Legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen died suddenly Sunday while on a family vacation in Mexico, the Dallas Cowboys said in a statement. He was 52 years old.
Larry Allen, a second-round loot (46th overall) of Sonoma State in 1994 who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. In his time with the Dallas Cowboys, he started at every offensive-line position except for center. He played four spots along the offensive line (right tackle in 1994, right guard from 1995-97, left tackle in 1998 and left guard from 1999-2007).
Allen was 11-time Pro Bowler and a six-time First-Team All-Pro. He was a key member of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl championship team in 1995 and in 2011, was named to the Cowboys Ring of Honor. His efforts were a significant part of an Offensive Line that led the way for that “other” Cowboys Running Back, Emmitt Smith the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
Playing 14 seasons from 1994 to 2007, Allen was also a member of both the 1990s and 2000s All-Decade teams. He started 12 seasons with the Cowboys (1994-2005) then completed his football career with the San Francisco 49ers.
