Lee Roy Jordan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jordan was born and raised in Excel, Alabama, the fifth of seven children. He excelled as a fullback at Excel High School and graduated in 1959. At Alabama, he played linebacker and center, earning unanimous All-American status and the Lineman of the Year award in 1962. He was part of the College All-Star team that defeated the defending champion Green Bay Packers in August 1963. He was selected sixth overall in the 1963 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys and became the first rookie linebacker in franchise history to start a season opener. He was nicknamed 'Killer' by teammates. He helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowls and five NFC Championship games. He was a two-time All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. He remains tied for second in club history with 18 career fumble recoveries. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1988. He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 but was not elected. He became the seventh member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1989. In 2018, the Professional Football Researchers Association named him to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018. After football, he managed the Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Company in Dallas. He died at a hospice in Dallas due to kidney failure on August 30, 2025, at age 84.

In Their Own Story

Upon arriving in Dallas, Jordan became the first rookie linebacker in franchise history to start a season opener at weakside linebacker. By 1965, he had moved to middle linebacker, sharing time with Jerry Tubbs before taking over permanently alongside Chuck Howley and Dave Edwards as part of the famed 'Doomsday Defense,' earning the nickname 'Killer' from teammates. His career was marked by extraordinary individual moments, such as September 26, 1971, when he set a team record with 21 tackles against the Philadelphia Eagles. On November 4, 1973, he achieved a rare feat by intercepting three passes from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson within five minutes in the first quarter, returning one for a 31-yard touchdown; ESPN later named this sequence one of the 10 most memorable moments in Texas Stadium history. Jordan watched game film endlessly, even including a projector in his contract to study opponents at home.

Reader's Guide

Lee Roy Jordan was a middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys from 1963 to 1976. He was known for his competitiveness and intensity, running Tom Landry's 'Flex' defense. He became the franchise's all-time leader in solo tackles (743) and still ranks second in Cowboys history in career solo tackles (743), assisted tackles (493), combined tackles (1,236), and consecutive starts (154). He intercepted 32 passes, returning them for 472 yards and three touchdowns. He had a team-record 21 tackles against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 26, 1971, and intercepted three passes in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 4, 1973, returning one for a touchdown.

Did You Know?

• Jordan was the first rookie linebacker in Dallas Cowboys history to start a season opener.
• He intercepted three passes in the first quarter against Ken Anderson and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1973, returning one 31 yards for a touchdown.
• His contract with the Cowboys included a projector for his home so he could watch game film endlessly.
• He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 but was not elected.