Emmitt Smith appeared to be holding back tears while remembering his former NFL teammate, Larry Allen, in a social media post on Monday.
Smith – considered the league’s all-time leading rusher – mourned Allen just hours after the Dallas Cowboys announced their former guard’s death at age 52 in a public statement.
Allen – regarded as one of the NFL’s physically strongest players ever – died suddenly while vacationing with his family in Mexico on Sunday. He is survived by his wife and their three children.
‘I’m at a loss of words right now,’ Smith, 55, said in an Instagram video.
‘Such a good dude. Great player. Super person … It just breaks my heart. I know life is very fragile and we’re only here for a moment. We need to make the best out of every moment and no take people for granted.
‘All I can say is, live your life to the fullest that you can, love those that are closest to you, love those that are not near you as best as you can.’
Allen and Smith won a Super Bowl (XXX) in 1996 with Dallas before parting ways in 2002. They were teammates for eight years, starting in 1994.
Besides his Super Bowl ring, Allen was an 11-time Pro Bowler and a six-time All-Pro in a career spanning from 1994-2007.
Smith recalled Allen’s accomplishments on the gridiron, while also remembering his qualities off the field as a friend and person.
‘The one thing about Larry Allen I know – he had a big heart, and he lived life to the fullest,’ Smith said.
‘A man of very few words, but on the football field he was a beast. He will be sorely missed.’
Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman was also devastated by Allen’s sudden death on Monday.
‘Just received the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved teammate Larry Allen. He was a HOF 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.’
