Dallas Cowboys Legend Lee Roy Jordan Passes Away at 84
DALLAS — Lee Roy Jordan, a cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys’ first Super Bowl victory and a legendary linebacker of the famed “Doomsday Defense,” died Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the age of 84. The Cowboys announced his passing without specifying the exact date or cause of death, though his son, David, confirmed Jordan passed in a Dallas hospice due to kidney failure. His legacy as a fierce competitor, leader, and community figure endures.
Born April 27, 1941, in Excel, Alabama, Jordan was the fifth of seven children. A standout fullback at Excel High School, he graduated in 1959 and went on to star at the University of Alabama under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. As a linebacker and center, Jordan helped Alabama secure the 1961 national championship and earned unanimous All-American honors in 1962. Bryant once said of him, “He was one of the finest football players the world has ever seen. If runners stayed between the sidelines, he tackled them.”
Selected sixth overall by the Cowboys in the 1963 NFL Draft, Jordan also drew interest from the AFL’s Boston Patriots but chose Dallas, embarking on a 14-year career that defined the franchise’s early success. As the heart of the “Doomsday Defense,” he anchored a linebacking unit alongside Chuck Howley and supported by defensive tackle Bob Lilly, whose 29-yard sack of Miami’s Bob Griese was a defining moment in the Cowboys’ 24-3 rout of the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI in 1971. This victory marked Dallas’ first championship, a breakthrough after the 1967 “Ice Bowl” loss to Green Bay and a 1970 Super Bowl defeat to the Baltimore Colts.
Jordan’s relentless style earned him the nickname “Killer” from teammates. His 1,236 career tackles, including 743 solo, remain second in Cowboys history, behind only Darren Woodson’s 1,350. Jordan holds the franchise record for 154 consecutive starts and ranks high with 32 interceptions, 19.5 sacks, and 18 fumble recoveries across 187 games. A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, he was the first player inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor by owner Jerry Jones in 1989. His impact extended to three Super Bowl appearances, five NFC Championship games, and 10 playoff runs.
Off the field, Jordan was a gentleman and family man, married to his college sweetheart, Mary “Biddie” Banks, with whom he raised three sons. His commitment to community service became a hallmark of his post-retirement life, as did his leadership of the Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Company in Dallas. Teammates like Roger Staubach, who called him “the baddest guy on the football field,” and Dan Reeves, who praised him as both a ferocious player and a beloved person, reflected the duality of his fierce on-field persona and warm off-field character.
The Cowboys mourned Jordan as “the embodiment of the Cowboys’ spirit,” noting his “fearless instincts, leadership, and relentless work ethic.” His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Cowboys’ Silver Season All-Time Team further cemented his legacy. Services are pending, but Jordan’s influence on the game and those who knew him will endure.
“Our hearts go out to Lee Roy’s family, friends, and loved ones,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “His legacy lives on as a model of dedication, integrity, and toughness.”