“It is with a very heavy heart that we share the passing of Lee Roy Jordan,” the team wrote per the New York Post. “An inspirational leader of the Cowboys first championship teams, Jordan was at the core of the Dallas Cowboys ‘Doomsday Defense,’ anchoring the middle linebacker spot for 14 years.”

Lee Roy Jordan was a legendary linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, remembered as one of the toughest and most dependable players in the team’s history. Born on April 27, 1941, in Excel, Alabama, Jordan grew up on a farm and developed his strength and work ethic early. He became a standout player at the University of Alabama, where he played under legendary coach Bear Bryant. At Alabama, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship in 1961 and was named an All-American.

In 1963, Jordan was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and quickly became the heart of their defense. He played his entire 14-year NFL career with the Cowboys, from 1963 to 1976, earning a reputation as a fierce tackler, smart leader, and reliable presence on the field. At just 6 feet tall and around 220 pounds, he was considered undersized for a linebacker, but he made up for it with speed, toughness, and instinct.