Former Cowboys Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion dies
The offensive lineman made six Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons
John Niland, a former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, passed away on August 15, 2026. Born in Quincy, Mass., Niland was selected fifth overall by the Cowboys in the 1966 NFL Draft. After starting as a fullback in college, he switched to guard during his junior year and became a starter at left guard in Dallas during his second year in the league.
By his third season, Niland had been named to the Pro Bowl for six consecutive years, from 1968 to 1973. He was a key member of the offensive line that helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins in 1972. Niland played in 15 playoff games with the Cowboys, protecting quarterbacks from Don Meredith to Roger Staubach and creating space for Duane Thomas and Calvin Hill.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1975 and played his final season with them. Niland was inducted into several halls of fame, including the Iowa All-time Football Team, Suffolk County Hall of Fame, University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, and later, the Boston University CTE Center, where his brain will be donated for study.
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