The NFL world lost a great one on Sunday when Dallas Cowboys legend and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen died suddenly at the age of 52 while on vacation with his family, according to a statement from the team.
Allen enjoyed a wildly successful 14-year career in the league, with 12 of those seasons coming with the Cowboys. Allen earned a whopping 11 Pro Bowl nods and six first-team All-Pro selections, along with one Super Bowl.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and is widely considered one of the very best and most respected offensive linemen in the history of the sport.
Allen, who played mostly guard but also spent some time at tackle, had rare athleticism for a 6-foot-3, 335-pound frame. That was on full display during a game against the New Orleans Saints in which he chased down a linebacker following an interception to prevent a possible touchdown.
Larry Allen was one of the most incredible athletes the NFL has ever seen
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 3, 2024
Maybe the most dominant run blocker ever, but legitimately insane speed too
Here he was making a chase down tackle out of nowhere pic.twitter.com/vTSPLXrlrm
Allen's strength was also ridiculous. This clip of him bench pressing 700 pounds is still talked about in Dallas to this day.
Here is Larry Allen bench pressing 700 pounds. It’s a moment that is still talked about in the halls of the Dallas Cowboys.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/nuTidXD0TY
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) June 3, 2024
Then there's this clip of Allen lifting 225 pounds 43 times.
Larry Allen lifting 225 pounds 43 times pic.twitter.com/P56W6bQQZq
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 3, 2024
When you talk about the most well-respected and feared offensive linemen to ever play the sport, Allen is right up there at the top of the list. Not even fellow Hall of Famer John Randle would mess around with Allen, as he once talked about.
John Randle talks about what it was like playing against Larry Allen, and how he was one of the few players he never taunted.
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) June 3, 2024
(NFL Top 100) pic.twitter.com/ggvaeUP90s
And here's Allen leveling Pittsburgh Steelers great and linebacker Greg Lloyd in the Super Bowl:
A great example of the type of player Larry Allen was for the Cowboys. This is from Dallas’ Super Bowl win over Pittsburgh in Jan. 1996. Allen setting the tone early with an incredible block on Steelers All-Pro LB Greg Lloyd
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 3, 2024
pic.twitter.com/Qr6pV41I2c
Allen had no bigger fan than John Madden, who absolutely loved his game:
John Madden talking for over 2 minutes straight about Larry Allen during a TD drive
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 3, 2024
“he’s the best OL in football and when I say that, pundits tell me Tony Boselli, but I would take this guy”
…then Larry Allen pulls and absolutely DESTROYS a DE on a TD run & Madden cackles 🤌 https://t.co/ECTyiBsgFN pic.twitter.com/lrQaxCthB0
John Madden gushing about a Larry Allen pancake block. The soundtrack of ’90s #Cowboys football on @NFLonFOX, even if you were rooting for the pancakee. RIP Larry Allen. pic.twitter.com/ibmZxzEl9x
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 3, 2024
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Allen's family at this difficult time. He will never be forgotten.
