Former Cowboys guard John Niland has passed away at the age of 82.
“An All-Pro guard, John was at the core of Tom Landry‘s greatest team and a Super Bowl champion,” the team said in a statement. “A tough, dedicated, team-first player that battled relentlessly on the line and represented excellence in every way. We send our condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Nilan was the fifth overall pick in the 1966 draft after a standout college career at Iowa and established himself as the Cowboys’ starting left guard by the end of his first year. He remained in Dallas through the 1974 season and racked up 111 starts with only two games missed due to injury. He was traded to the Eagles in 1975 and started 13 games at left guard before retiring after the season.
Known for his athleticism and physicality as a pulling guard, Niland earned three first-team All-Pro nods, six straight Pro Bowls, and a championship ring from Super Bowl VI during his time in silver and blue. He is a member of the Cowboys All-Time Team and remains the franchise’s highest-drafted offensive lineman.
Niland’s family announced on social media that his brain would be donated to the Boston University CTE Center “to be studied and shed light on the effects of professional sports on the human body.”
This content was brought to you by: Pro Football Rumors
