Bama in the NFL: Lee Roy Jordan Still Alabama's Greatest Dallas Cowboy
There have been numerous Alabama Crimson Tide players who have placed high in voting for the Heisman Trophy, including Lee Roy Jordan’s fourth-place showing in 1962. However, he did so primarily as a linebacker.
Jordan arrived at the Capstone one year after Paul W. “Bear” Bryant returned to coach, and helped return the Alabama to the top of the college football world. The unanimous All-American also finished his career like no other with an amazing 30 tackles in the 17-0 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The team went 29-2-2 over his last three seasons.
“He was one of the finest football players the world has ever seen,” Bryant said. “If runners stayed between the sidelines, he tackled them. He never had a bad day, he was 100 percent every day in practice and in the games.”
The Dallas Cowboys selected him with the sixth overall pick in 1963 draft, where he became a key part of the Doomsday Defense. Despite being only 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, he played 14 seasons, became the franchise’s all-time leader in solo tackles with 743, and helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowls (winning one).
Although teammates called him "Killer," Jordan was known for his endless studying of game film. It was part of his contract that the team included a projector for his home.
“He was a great competitor,” said Tom Landry, the Cowboys’ Hall of Fame coach. “He was not big for a middle linebacker, but because of his competitiveness, he was able to play the game and play it well. His leadership was there and he demanded a lot out of the people around him as he did of himself.”
In 1989, Jordan received the Cowboys’ highest honor when 13 years after his retirement became the seventh player inducted into the club’s Ring of Honor, joining Bob Lilly, Don Meredith, Don Perkins, Chuck Howley, Mel Renfro and Roger Staubach. A contract dispute late in his career with former Cowboys president Tex Schramm was believed to be the reason for the delay.
“I’d like to thank Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, my friends and the fans who remembered me for all these years. You’ve got a hell of a long memory,” Jordan said at the time. “I’m honored to be put on the board with these guys.”
Bama in the NFL: Dallas Cowboys
The Franchise
National Football Conference
East Division
Team Colors: Royal Blue, Metallic Silver Blue and White
Founded: 1960
Stadium: AT&T Stadium (capacity 80,000, expandable to 100,000 for special events)
Playing Surface: SoftTop Matrix Turf
Training Camp: Oxnard, Calif.
All-Time Alabama Players
- Thornton Chandler, TE, 1986 - 1989
- Jeremy Clark, DT, 2010
- Amari Cooper, WR, 2018 - 2021
- Trevon Diggs, CB, 2020 - 2022
- Tony Dixon, DB, 2001 - 2004
- Lemanski Hall, LB, 1999
- Dennis Homan, WR, 1968 - 1970
- Lee Roy Jordan, LB, 1963 - 1976
- Derrick Lassic, RB, 1993
- Rolando McClain, LB, 2014 - 2015
- Michael Myers, DT, 1998 - 2003
- Charlie Peprah, DB, 2012
- Saivion Smith, DB, 2020
- George Teague, DB, 1996, 1998 - 2001
- Sherman Williams, RB, 1995 - 1999
Dallas Cowboys
Crimson Tide Players Drafted
Super Bowl Appearances
Dennis Homan, Supr Bowl V, Jan. 17, 1971
The Colts defeated the Cowboys 16–13 thanks to a field goal with 5 seconds remaining. The two teams combined for 11 turnovers, including five solely the fourth quarter. The Colts won despite losing seven turnovers, but the Cowboys had 10 penalties.
Lee Roy Jordan, Super Bowls V (Jan. 17, 1971), VI (Jan. 16, 1972), and X (Jan. 18, 1976)
Jordan led all players in Super Bowl V with seven tackles. He lead his team with five tackles in Super Bowl VI, helping lead the Cowboys to a 24-3 victory over the Dolphins. He had four tackles in Super Bowl X, a 21-17 loss to the Steelers.
Derrick Lassic, Super Bowl XXVIII, Jan. 30, 1994
The Cowboys defeated the Bills, for the second straight year, by a score of 30–13. It's the only time that the same two teams have met in consecutive Super Bowls.
Sherman Williams, Super Bowl XXX, Jan. 28, 1996
The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27–17, winning their fifth Super Bowl to tie the 49ers for the most in NFL history.
Major Awards/Honors
In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the ninth story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.
AFC
NFC
See Also
Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team
