Larry Allen was a great offensive lineman who played for the Cowboys for 12 of his 14 NFL seasons. He died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico, the team said Monday.

He was 52 years old.

The Cowboys said in a statement that Larry was “one of the most respected and accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL.” Larry was known for being very athletic and very strong.

“Another thing that made his career stand out was how versatile and reliable he was.” He set the standard for what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor, and winner, and many other players looked up to him.

Allen’s wife Janelle and children Jayla, Loriana, and Larry III are the ones who will miss him. No cause of death was given right away.

“The Jones family and the Cowboys send their deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the Allen family. They are also grieving with Larry’s many friends and Cowboys teammates who loved him,” the statement said.

Allen was picked in the second round out of Sonoma State in 1994. He played guard for the Cowboys from 1994 to 2005 and was in their Super Bowl-winning team in 1995.

He spent his last two NFL seasons with the 49ers. In 2013, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Troy Aikman wrote on X, “Just got the heartbreaking news that our beloved teammate Larry Allen passed away.” He also included an emoji that looks like a broken heart. “He was a Hall of Fame offensive lineman who dominated opponents at every position.” He was a gentle giant who loved his family when he wasn’t playing football. “Rest in peace, LA.”

Allen was the anchor of the Cowboys’ offensive line in front of star quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. He was known for his speed for his size (6-foot-3, 335 pounds) and his strength—he reportedly once bench-pressed 700 pounds.

Allen played left and right tackle, but as a left guard, he was named to the All-Decade team for the 1990s and 2000s.

In a statement, Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said, “The National Football League is full of talented athletes, but only a few have combined the size, brute strength, speed, and agility of Larry Allen.” “As an offensive lineman, he could often do things that didn’t make sense.”

The player from Compton, California, was stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He went to four different high schools before playing college football at Butte College and Sonoma State.

“Wow, that’s definitely someone I hoped to meet someday!” “Rest in peace, legend!” A post by Micah Parsons, a current Cowboys star, on X included a crying emoji.

It was said by the Cowboys that plans for a memorial service were being made.