The NFL lives hours of deep shock after learning the news of the death of the legendary Larry Allen while I was on vacation in Mexico with his family, as confirmed by the Dallas Cowboys franchise itself where he shone for more than a decade.
“The Dallas Cowboys are saddened to learn that Larry Allen, Cowboys legend, Super Bowl Champion, member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor and Hall of Famer, He passed away suddenly on Sunday while on vacation in Mexico with his family.“, he limited himself to clarifying the organization without giving too many details of what happened to this former player of 52 years.
Was in Dallas from 1994 until he emigrated to the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 to serve the last two seasons as a professional. He Hall of Famewhich opened its doors in 2013, dismissed him as the myth that he was of this sport and recognized him as “as one of the strongest players in NFL history”.
“The NFL is full of talented athletes, but only a few have combined the size, strength, speed and agility of Larry Allen. What he could do as an offensive linemen often defied logic and understanding,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter defined him. He had 11 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pro selections and was selected as a member of the All-Decade Team in both 1990 and 2000.
From Dallas they praised his “great athletic ability and incredible strength” that made him “one of the most respected and accomplished offensive linemen in the NFL.” At the same time they clarified: “Memorial service arrangements and details will be announced in the near future.”. Allen was married to Janelle and had three children (Jayla, Loriana and Larry III).
This true glory of the sport, who stood out in the NFL for his combination of size, strength and speed, He was selected in the second round of the 1994 draft. from the Californian University of Sonoma State. During a Monday Night Football game in New Orleans in 1994, Allen demonstrated his incredible speed by chasing and tackling Saints linebacker Darion Conner, preventing a touchdown, impressing announcers Frank Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf. .
Allen gained notoriety not only for his speed, but also for his impressive strength. During an offseason in the early 2000s, he was known for being able to lift over 700 pounds, allowing him to dominate his rivals with ease. Additionally, he showed notable versatility on the field, moving from guard to tackle and then back to guard, excelling at both positions with multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro team selections.
Early in his career, Allen was selected to the Pro Bowl as a guard from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, he moved to tackle, once again being selected to the Pro Bowl as well as the All-Pro team. Eventually, he returned to his original guard position, establishing himself as one of the best in his position in the history of the NFL.
In 2019, Allen was recognized as one of seven guards on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list.. This recognition underscores his impact and legacy in American football, highlighting his ability to combine strength and speed exceptionally throughout his career.
Although the Cowboys selected the player in the 1994 draft, his contribution reached its splendor in the 1995 seasonwhen he helped the team beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. The 11-time Pro Bowl selection was part of the most recent generation of the Texas team that won a Vince Lombardi Trophy. He was part of an offense in which historic players such as Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, all members of the Hall of Fame, shone.
Larry Christopher Allen Jr. was born in Los Angeles on November 27, 1971. From an early age, he turned to football as a way to stay out of trouble while growing up in Compton. During that stage he faced multiple challenges: At age 10, he was stabbed 12 times (four in the head and eight in the shoulder) while trying to protect his younger brother during a fight.. A year later, his father abandoned the family, leaving him in the care of his mother. She played a crucial role in persuading Allen not to join a gang and he decided to move to Northern California to get him away from the dangers associated with local shootings.
According to various sources, he attended four different high schools in a short period, without graduating from any of them. He played two years of football at Butte College in Oroville (California) and later entered Sonoma State University, a Division II institution outside San Francisco, where he continued his sports career.
During his junior year at Sonoma State University, NFL scouts noticed his potential and told him he had a real chance to make it to the pros. This prompted him to train with greater dedication to achieve success in professional football.
