The Dallas Cowboys Larry Allen Was Built Different

The most important lesson he learned in life on his journey from Compton To Canton

Spending his first twelve seasons with the Cowboys, Larry Allen earned ten Pro Bowl selections and seven first-team All-Pro honors. His ten Pro Bowl selections are the most for a Cowboys offensive player. He was also part of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXX over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Allen played his final two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he received his eleventh Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

HUB CITY

Larry Allen was stabbed 12 times in the head, shoulder, and neck by a young neighbor while trying to protect his brother at the age of 10. Growing up in Compton, CA is not for the faint of heart. During his Hall of Fame speech, he shares details of the most important life lesson he ever learned. Thanks to his Mother who didn’t raise any punks.

Allen’s stock dropped in the 1994 NFL Draft because of his small-school background and a rotator cuff injury. He was the tenth offensive lineman selected in the draft and the first player ever chosen from Sonoma State.

As a Freshman at Centennial High School in Compton, he lettered in football. Ironically, years later I would find myself in his alma mater’s hallways recruiting Seniors while on active duty in the Navy in the early 2000s.

During February we focused on the defensive side of the ball. In March, we will be getting more offensive. What made Allen so different than all other offensive linemen? He played all but one position along the offensive line in his 11 seasons in Dallas, moving between right tackle (1994), right guard (1995–1997), left tackle…