NFL fans are mourning the loss of one of the league’s most formidable players, Larry Allen, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 52 while vacationing in Mexico.
Allen, widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, left an indelible mark on the sport with his unparalleled strength and resilience.
Watch Dallas Cowboys’ Larry Allen bench press 700 pounds – VIDEO
Allen’s impossible feat: lifting 700 pounds
Allen’s career was filled with numerous feats of strength, but none more iconic than his 700-pound bench press in 2001.
Witnessed by his then-offensive line coach Hudson Houck, this monumental lift became a testament to Allen’s extraordinary physical prowess.
Houck described the moment with awe, likening it to a scene from a Popeye cartoon, where the barbell appeared to bend under the massive weight.
Allen’s journey to this legendary status was marked by consistent, rigorous training.
Despite rarely lifting weights in high school, he displayed remarkable strength early on, benching 400 pounds with ease at Butte Junior College and manhandling 500 pounds by the time he left Sonoma State.
Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1994, professional weight training helped him surpass 600 pounds on the bench press and achieve an astounding squat of 900 pounds.
Allen, a legend on the field and in the weight room
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 325 pounds, Allen was known throughout his 14-year career as the NFL’s strongest player.
His first head coach with the Dallas Cowboys, Barry Switzer, recalled a story shared by strength coach Joe Juraszek about Allen’s incredible lifting ability.
In 2002, after hearing teammates challenge Allen in comparison to Pro Bowler La’Roi Glover, Allen nonchalantly benched 315 pounds for 44 reps, leaving his teammates in awe and Glover bowing in respect.
Frank Scalercio, Allen’s head coach at Sonoma State University, marveled at Allen’s effortless handling of weights that would challenge even the strongest athletes.
At the 2006 Pro Bowl, at 34 years old, Allen benched 225 pounds 43 times, securing the event’s strongest man title and cementing his legacy as a powerhouse.
Beyond the weight room, Allen’s strength translated to the football field where he used his immense power to dominate opponents.
His game-day goal was to make opponents quit, often succeeding with a powerful ‘punch’ that left many dazed and even injured.
Larry Allen’s career was decorated with numerous accolades, including his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
A member of the All-Decade team for both the 1990s and 2000s, Allen’s 14-season career saw him selected for 11 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams, primarily with the Cowboys before finishing with the 49ers.
As the NFL community reflects on his legacy, Larry Allen will be remembered not only for his historic 700-pound bench press but also as a giant of the game who exemplified strength, dedication, and unmatched athleticism.
