Legendary Dallas Cowboys Star Dead Wednesday At 79

The Dallas Cowboys lost a two-time Super Bowl champion this week.

Former Cowboys D.D. Lewis passed away this Tuesday. He was 79. Prior to becoming a superstar for "America's Team," he was an All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Mississippi State. That led to him being a sixth-round pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. When it was all said and done, he appeared in five Super Bowls as a member of the Cowboys. He had 15.5 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and eight interceptions in 186 career games.

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"D.D. was a great player," former Cowboys star Thomas Henderson said. "He kept me from the weakside because he played it so well. D.D. was a tough guy and I wanted his job Day 1, but I never could get it because he played [coach Tom] Landry’s defense and I couldn’t interrupt that. So I ended up on the strong side, which was better for me because I got to box every down."

Earlier this Wednesday, Mississippi State released a statement on Lewis and his legacy. He was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

"We mourn the passing of Bulldog legend D.D. Lewis," Mississippi State said. "An All-SEC standout and 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he played 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in five Super Bowls, won two, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001."

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Lewis was beloved in Dallas.

Back when Lewis was making plays for the Cowboys, he dropped an incredible quote about playing at Texas Stadium.

"Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play," Lewis said.

There's no question Dallas fans appreciated Lewis' passion and commitment to the franchise. We'll see if the Cowboys honor him before their Week 3 game.

Our thoughts are with the Lewis family at this time.

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