Cowboys legend who helped Dallas win its first Super Bowl dies at 82
Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard John Niland, who helped the Cowboys win its first Super Bowl, has died at age 82.
John Niland, a legendary offensive guard who played a pivotal role in the Dallas Cowboys' first Super Bowl victory, has passed away at the age of 82. Niland's family announced his death on Saturday, and no cause of death was disclosed. He spent his first nine seasons with the Cowboys before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1975.
During his time with the Cowboys, Niland helped the team win Super Bowl VI in January 1972, securing a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. In addition to his Super Bowl triumph, Niland was recognized as a First Team All-Pro for three consecutive years (1968-70) and earned six Pro Bowl selections from 1968-73. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 245 pounds, Niland was selected fifth overall in the 1966 NFL Draft by the Cowboys.
He also made the Raiders' roster in the 13th round of the 1966 AFL Draft but chose to join the Cowboys.
Before his NFL career, Niland had a successful college football career at Iowa, where he lettered three times from 1963 to 1965 and was named to the All-Century Team in 1989. He was posthumously inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. Niland's family decided to donate his brain to the Boston University CTE Center for further study to better understand the impact of professional sports on the human body.
He is survived by his wife, Shaughn, and two daughters, Jordan and Haven. Niland's family expressed their gratitude to the millions of supporters and fans who cheered on their beloved John throughout his life.
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