ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 19: Former NFL player Larry Allen talks with Mackenzy Bernadeau #73 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
COMPTON (CNS) - Larry Allen, who grew up in Compton and went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys as one of the league's most imposing offensive linemen, died of unknown causes while vacationing with his family in Mexico, the Cowboys announced Monday.
Allen, 52, died Sunday, according to the team.
"Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL," according to a statement from the Cowboys. "His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as an 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."
Allen emerged from a difficult childhood in Compton. At age 10, he was stabbed a dozen times by a young neighbor while protecting his brother. He initially attended Centennial High School, but bounced to different schools for the rest of his high school career. He eventually wound up at Sonoma State University, and he was drafted in the second round by the Cowboys in the 1994 NFL Draft.
He spent more than a decade with the Cowboys, ending his career with a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers. He won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys in January 1996. During his career he was a six-time first-team All-Pro and an 11-time Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He is also a member of the Dallas Cowboys' coveted Ring of Honor.
Former Cowboy's quarterback Troy Aikman, whom Allen protected on the offensive line, called Allen's death "heartbreaking."
"He was a (Hall of Fame) offensive lineman that dominated opponents regardless of the position played," Aikman wrote on X. "Off the field, he was a gentle giant that loved his family. Rest in Peace LA."