The Dallas Cowboys announced on Monday that Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen died at the age of 52.
The Cowboys released a statement regarding the tragedy, writing that Allen “passed away suddenly while on vacation in Mexico with his family on Sunday.”
“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL,” continued the announcement.
“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.”
Allen spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Cowboys from 1994 until 2005, helping the team win Super Bowl XXX in 1996 while also accumulating a Cowboys franchise record of 10 Pro Bowl appearances.
The Hall of Famer was also named to an All-Pro team seven times during his career, with six of those selections coming as a guard and one coming as a tackle, becoming just the third player in NFL history to be selected as an All-Pro at multiple positions on the offensive line.
Allen was also among the strongest players in NFL history, posting a career-best bench press of 700 pounds in 2001 and squatting 900 pounds during his time with the Cowboys.
Allen spent the final two years of his football career playing for the San Francisco 49ers, where he was named to another Pro Bowl in 2006, bringing his career total to 11 selections.
Allen was inducted into the Ring of Honor by the Cowboys in 2011, and the NFL inducted him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame two years later, in 2013.
Multiple NFL teammates and legends have posted their condolences in response to the news, including Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who wrote that Allen “dominated opponents regardless of the position played” and was a “gentle giant that loved his family.”
Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, who played with Allen on the Cowboys for nine seasons, released an emotional video in which he said that he was at “a loss for words,” reflecting that Allen “had a big heart and he lived life to the fullest.”
“No words to describe the feeling of losing a brother, teammate and most importantly, a friend. Someone who always put others first” wrote Smith in a separate post.
“A beast on field and a gentle soul off. Rest in peace to a true Cowboy and one of [the] greatest — you will be truly missed.”
Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement that Allen was a “quiet, gentle giant” off the field who could flip a switch and “literally beat the will out of his opponents” on the field.
“The National Football League is filled with gifted athletes, but only a rare few have combined the size, brute strength, speed and agility of Larry Allen. What he could do as an offensive lineman often defied logic and comprehension,” Porter added, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
