Lee Roy Jordan, the legendary Dallas Cowboys linebacker and five-time Pro Bowler, has passed away at 84.
The Cowboys honored him as “an inspirational leader of the Cowboys’ first championship teams,”
praising his role in the famed “Doomsday Defense” and his 14-year career at middle linebacker.
Born in Excel, Alabama, Jordan grew up on a farm, where he built the strength and discipline that shaped his career.
At the University of Alabama, he starred under coach Bear Bryant, winning a national championship in 1961 and earning All-American honors.
Drafted by Dallas in 1963, Jordan spent his entire career with the Cowboys. Though considered undersized at 6 feet, 220 pounds,
he earned a reputation as a tough tackler, intelligent leader, and reliable presence. He played
in three Super Bowls, helping Dallas secure its first championship in Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins.
Jordan was selected to five Pro Bowls, named to multiple All-Pro teams, and still ranks among the franchise’s
leaders in tackles and interceptions for a linebacker. After retiring in 1976, he built a successful
business career in Dallas. In 1989, his legacy was cemented when he was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.
