NFL Hall of Fame 2013: Larry Allen’s Speech (Video)

Dallas Cowboys guard Larry Allen was inducted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame Saturday night. A shy and quiet Allen took to the stage and shared his nerves and asked Cowboys fans to support him.

“During my career, I didn’t talk that much, but I didn’t have to. I used my helmet,” Allen started his speech.

Allen kicked off his speech by sharing a story about his first date with his wife.

“On our first date, she cooked for me. She cooked me two chickens, french fries, baked me a cake, and gave me a 40 ounce. I knew then, that was my wife right there,” Allen said.

He also thanked his mother and children.

Early in his career he struggled against NFL great Reggie White but that only served as motivation.

“I got in that weight room and became the strongest man in the NFL. And I did it naturally,” Allen said, to laughs. “Once I benched 700 pounds, they tested me twice a week for the rest of my career.”

Allen’s bust has a scar and he shared the story behind that.

“I was protecting my little brother from the guy who was a little older than me. He ended up stabbing me,” Allen said. “Three months later my mother said, I’m not raising any punks, so she made me fight this guy. She said you will fight him until you win. First day, I lost. Second day, I lost. The third day, I finally won. That was one of the most valuable lessons I learned in my life, never to back down from anybody.”

Quotes from NFL.com.