Larry Allen, longtime Cowboys OL and Hall of Famer, dies at 52

Larry Allen, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, died Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico, the team said. He was 52.

“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 in a statement Monday. “His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner.
“He was deeply loved and cared for by his wife, Janelle — whom he referred to as his heart and soul, his daughters Jayla and Loriana and son, Larry III. 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.”

Allen became one of the most accomplished offensive linemen in NFL history during a 14-year career with Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers. The former offensive guard was a seven-time first-team All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade team in both the 1990s and 2000s, he won a Super Bowl championship with Dallas during the 1995 season and, in 2011, was inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.