D.D. Lewis

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Lore & Background

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 16, 1945, Lewis was the youngest of 14 children. He was named Dwight Douglas after two great generals in World War II, Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur. He attended Fulton High School, where he was a Tennessee All-State linebacker in 1963. He starred at Mississippi State University from 1965 to 1967 as a two-way player and three-year starter. He led the Bulldogs in tackles and assists all three of his varsity seasons and was named team captain his senior year. Despite being on teams that went 7–23, Lewis earned All-Southeastern Conference honors twice and was a first-team All-American selection his senior year. Repeatedly referred to as the top linebacker in the SEC, Lewis made a distinct impression on rival coaches. Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant called D.D. Lewis 'the best linebacker in the country'. Bill Yeoman applauded Lewis' ability to recover and pursue and said he was the finest linebacker he had seen that year. Following the 1967 season, Vince Dooley said he was the best linebacker Georgia had faced – 'He's terrific.' Lewis won numerous awards: SEC All-sophomore team (1965), All-SEC (1966–67), SEC defensive player of the year (1967), UPI second-team All-American (1967), and outstanding athlete (1968). At the end of his senior year, Lewis was selected to play in the Senior Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game, and the Blue–Gray Game. For his accomplishments while at Mississippi State University, Lewis was inducted into the nation's College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. In 1987, Lewis was inducted into the state of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Lewis is also a member of the Mississippi State, Blue–Gray Game, Knoxville, Mississippi and Tennessee sports Hall of Fame. Although he was a great college player, Lewis was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft, because teams thought that he was too small to play in the NFL. As a rookie at training camp, the team tried him at center, before moving him to outside linebacker. In 1969, he spent what would have been his second season doing military service. In 1973 after serving as a backup for four seasons, Lewis took over the weakside linebacker position, when Chuck Howley retired, and held this position for nine straight years. His best game was in the 1975 NFC Championship Game, when he intercepted two passes

In Their Own Story

During the 1975 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, Lewis delivered his best performance by intercepting two passes in a dominant 37–7 victory. This win helped the Cowboys become the first wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl. His longevity was remarkable; he played 27 playoff games, a record that still stands for the franchise. The breakdown included 12 NFC divisional-round contests, one wild-card contest, and nine NFC Championship Games. Lewis was voted 'Most Popular Player' by fans and received the Bart Starr Meritorious Award in 1981 before retiring after the 1981 season. He famously quipped that Texas Stadium had a hole in its roof so God could watch his favorite team play. Although he never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro squad, he served as defensive co-captain in 1977 and 1978 and was named to the Cowboys Silver Anniversary Team in 1984.

Reader's Guide

Dwight Douglas Lewis (October 16, 1945 – September 16, 2025) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was selected in the sixth round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. Lewis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He played for 13 years and started 135 consecutive games (third in team history), until his retirement after the 1981 season. He made five Super Bowl appearances while winning Super Bowl VI, and Super Bowl XII. He holds the Cowboys playoff record with 27 games played.

Did You Know?

• Lewis was named Dwight Douglas after two great generals in World War II, Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur.
• He was the youngest of 14 children.
• He was selected in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft because teams thought he was too small to play in the NFL.
• His best game was in the 1975 NFC Championship Game, when he intercepted two passes in a 37–7 victory against the Los Angeles Rams.
• He is one of only eight NFL players to have played in five Super Bowls: (V, VI, X, XII, and XIII).