Larry Allen, the NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman regarded as one of the greatest of all time, died suddenly on Sunday. He was 52.
Allen was on vacation with his family in Mexico, the Dallas Cowboys announced in a statement. His cause of death was not revealed.
“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL,” the Cowboys said.
Allen won Super Bowl XXX with the Cowboys and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He was a six-time All-Pro selection and 11-time Pro Bowler in his 14-year career with the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
But the accolades hardly captured the physical dominance Allen displayed throughout his career on the offensive line, where he was capable of playing any of the four guard and tackle positions.
“I thought, or least I tried, to get people scared of me,” said fellow Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden, who also was elected alongside Allen in 2013. “This guy scared people all the time. I saw a lot of [defensive linemen] all of a sudden get cramps when they faced Larry.”
Born Nov. 27, 1971, in Los Angeles, Allen’s path to NFL dominance was far from smooth. Growing up in Compton, Allen was in grade school when he was once stabbed several times trying to protect his older brother. He attended four different high schools and failed to graduate from Butte College.
But in 1991, an assistant coach at Division II Sonoma State heard about Allen and recruited him to come play football in Northern California. Allen dominated the level for two years, and the Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.
Allen made a name for himself during his rookie year with his strength and speed. After New Orleans Saints linebacker Darion Conner intercepted a pass, Allen chased him down from behind to prevent a touchdown. The big man’s speed stunned observers and became a YouTube favorite even after his retirement.
Allen went on to dominate for more than a decade in the league, stonewalling defensive linemen on passing plays and plowing through them to open running lanes.
“I wanted to make you quit,” Allen said in 2013. “I wanted you to tap out.”
While he cut a terrifying figure on the field, Allen was known for his calm and quiet demeanor off the field. He called himself, “Quiet Larry.”
“He continued to serve as inspiration for many other players defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner,” the Cowboys said Monday. “The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry.”
