The Cowboys drafted Lee Roy Jordan with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft. He was the first Cowboy ever inducted into the Ring of Honor.
DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys legendary linebacker Lee Roy Jordan has died at 84 years old, the team announced Saturday.
Jordan was drafted to the Cowboys from the University of Alabama with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft. A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Jordan was the first Cowboy to be inducted by Jerry Jones into the Ring of Honor in 1989.
Jordan, whose teammates nicknamed “Killer,” was an anchor for Dallas’ “Doomsday Defense” for 14 years. He was part of the Cowboys 1972 Super Bowl team.
“With fearless instincts, leadership and a relentless work ethic, Jordan was the embodiment of the Cowboys spirit,” the team wrote. “Off the field, his commitment to his community was the centerpiece of his life after retiring in 1976. His legacy lives on as a model of dedication, integrity and toughness. Lee Roy Jordan’s impact on the game, and on those who knew him, will live on forever. Our hearts go out to Lee Roy’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Jordan also helped Alabama win a national championship in 1961 under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. According to the National Football Foundation, Bryant once said Jordan “was one of the finest football players the world he had ever seen.”