Overview

• He spent 14 seasons (1963–76) with Dallas at middle linebacker and helped secure the franchise’s first Super Bowl title with a 24-3 win over Miami in the 1971 season.
• He earned five Pro Bowl selections and later became the first Ring of Honor inductee of the Jerry Jones era in 1989.
• He recorded 32 interceptions with three touchdowns and, per Pro Football Reference, 19.5 sacks across 187 games, and his 1,236 tackles rank second in team history.
• Drafted sixth overall by Dallas in 1963, he arrived after starring at Alabama under Bear Bryant, leading the 1961 national champions and earning 1962 AP All-America honors.
• Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, he was praised by the Cowboys for leadership, toughness and community commitment following his 1976 retirement.