Monday marked a sad day for the NFL world, as Cowboys Ring of Honor member and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Larry Allen passed away.
Allen was a second-round pick out of Sonoma State in 1994 and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL. During his career, he was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Allen played for the Cowboys from 1994 to 2005, winning a Super Bowl in 1995, and spent his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Larry Allen overcame a challenging upbringing in Compton, California, where he once was stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He attended four different high schools before going to Butte College. Later, he excelled at Sonoma State, catching the attention of the Cowboys, who drafted him with the 46th pick.
Allen protected Cowboys quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo, demonstrating versatility by shifting from guard to tackle during games. He played right tackle, right guard, and left tackle but mostly starred at left guard, earning first-team All-Pro honors six times.
One of the Cowboys’ brightest young stars on the offensive line, who now plays Larry Allen’s former position, shared what he learned from one of the all-time greats. He highlighted Allen’s relentless work ethic, versatility, and technique as key lessons that have helped shape his own approach to the game. He emphasized the importance of Allen’s dedication to mastering multiple positions and his ability to dominate at left guard, right guard, and tackle, which has inspired him to strive for excellence and adaptability in his own career.
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