“Larry, identified for his nice athleticism and unbelievable energy, was some of the revered, completed offensive linemen to ever play within the NFL,” the Cowboys mentioned in a press release. “His versatility and dependability have been additionally signature elements of his profession. Via that, he continued to function inspiration for a lot of different gamers, defining what it meant to be a terrific teammate, competitor and winner.”
Allen’s dominance prolonged to the purpose he joined an unique membership of gamers chosen for 2 All-Decade groups, being included on each the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s’ rosters. Working at each left and proper guard, together with stints at sort out, Allen gave the Cowboys an unmatched anchor throughout his prime and saved up his high quality play nicely into his 30s.
Allen completed as a seven-time All-Professional (six first groups) and 11-time Professional Bowler.
Already forming one of many nice offensive line nuclei in NFL historical past, the Cowboys added Allen to that blend within the 1994 second spherical. They selected the previous junior faculty signee and two-time Division II All-American forty eighth general, including him to an O-line combine that included Professional Bowlers Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski and Erik Williams.
A Williams damage in 1994 thrust Allen into the fitting sort out position that yr. After the Cowboys’ threepeat bid couldn’t face up to one other 49ers problem, the staff slid the ultra-talented blocker to his pure guard position. Allen spent 10 of the following 11 seasons as a guard starter in Dallas, with the Cowboys kicking him to left sort out to interchange Tuinei in 1998.
Allen’s Dallas profession lined the ultimate seven years of Troy Aikman‘s tenure and lasted by way of Drew Bledsoe‘s debut with the staff. Allen earned first-team All-Professional honors for his LT one-off season as nicely.
“The Nationwide Soccer League is crammed with gifted athletes, however solely a uncommon few have mixed the dimensions, brute energy, pace and agility of Larry Allen. What he may do as an offensive lineman usually defied logic and comprehension,” Corridor of Fame President Jim Porter mentioned in a press release. “He may actually beat the desire out of his opponents, with many quitting mid-game or not dressing in any respect moderately than face him, however that was solely on the sector. Off it, he was a quiet, light big.”
Allen’s first season as a full-time guard helped drive the Cowboys to their third Tremendous Bowl championship of the Nineteen Nineties. That conquest completed off a season that noticed 4 Cowboys O-linemen earn Professional Bowl invitations; free agent middle Ray Donaldson joined Allen, Newton and Tuinei on a entrance that helped Emmitt Smith set the then-single-season landing document (with 25).
Because the Dallas dynasty core items splintered, Allen remained with the staff lengthy sufficient to assist Smith break Walter Payton‘s all-time dashing mark through the 2002 season.
The Cowboys signed Allen to 2 extensions — in 1998 and 2002; the latter deal was value $37.3M over six years. Allen performed 4 seasons on that contract, being launched in March 2006.
The 49ers stepped in with a two-year deal, and whereas San Francisco was going by way of a down interval, Allen earned his ultimate Professional Bowl nod throughout his debut season with the staff. Frank Gore‘s lone All-Professional displaying — a season that featured the No. 3 all-time main rusher amass a career-high 1,695 dashing yards — got here throughout Allen’s first 49ers season.
Along with Allen’s on-field accomplishments, he displayed the energy that gave defensive linemen matches by bench-pressing 700 kilos throughout an offseason Cowboys exercise. Throughout his ultimate look as a Cowboy — the 2006 Professional Bowl — Allen repped 225 kilos 43 occasions.
The NFL’s 2019 one hundredth Anniversary staff included Allen as one of many guards. Within the post-merger period, solely three O-linemen surpassed Allen’s 11 Professional Bowls.
