Lee Roy Jordan has passed away

[Tide-one-on]

Lee Roy Jordan, the indomitable middle linebacker who anchored the Dallas Cowboys’ defense for over a decade, passed away on August 30, 2025, at the age of 84. This was announced by the Cowboys over social media. Revered for his toughness, leadership, and relentless work ethic, Jordan leaves behind a legacy that helped define one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.

Born April 27, 1941, in Excel, Alabama, Jordan rose from humble beginnings to national prominence. Under the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant at the University of Alabama, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the 1961 national championship and earned unanimous All-American honors in 1962. His college career culminated with a 31-tackle performance in the 1963 Orange Bowl, a feat that remains etched in Alabama lore.

Drafted sixth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1963, Jordan spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Dallas, becoming the emotional and tactical leader of the famed “Doomsday Defense.” He played in 186 games, recorded 32 interceptions, and recovered 18 fumbles. His three-interception game against the Bengals in 1973 and his pivotal role in the Cowboys’ Super Bowl VI victory in 1971 are testaments to his clutch performance and football intelligence.

Jordan was named to five Pro Bowls and earned second-team All-Pro honors twice. In 1989, he became the first player inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor by team owner Jerry Jones, who described him as “the embodiment of the Cowboys’ spirit”.

Off the field, Jordan was known for his humility, generosity, and commitment to community service. He remained active in charitable work and mentoring young athletes long after his retirement in 1976.

Condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest in Peace.

Sourced using Wikipedia and MSN.

 

[Windsortide]

Great, Great football player, thank for the memories and prayers for him and his family.

 

[BamaNation]

Lee Roy Jordan, legendary Alabama & Dallas Cowboys linebacker, has died at 84

Was All-American for Crimson Tide in early 1960s before spending 14 seasons with Cowboys

www.al.com

Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama football legendary linebacker, dies at 84

A former Alabama football national champion and All-American linebacker has died.

sports.yahoo.com

Lee Roy Jordan dies at 84: Cowboys Ring of Honor member led franchise to first Super Bowl victory

Jordan was a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection

www.cbssports.com

Former Cowboys star Lee Roy Jordan dies at 84

The Cowboys announced on Saturday that Lee Roy Jordan has died at the age of 84.

www.nbcsports.com

DallasCowboys.com:

Cowboys legend Lee Roy Jordan, Ring of Honor member, passes away at 84

 

[BamaNation]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1961859766285684933

 

[rtr90]

Bad omen ...

 

[22Musso22]

RIP to the Greatest Bear Bryant Linebacker of all time.

 

[sononothing]

RIP Lee Roy

 

[December05]

Any game should pale in comparison to the passing of an all-time legend such as Mr. Jordan.

He was already retired from the Cowboys a few years before I was born. Do any of you “more-seasoned” posters have any recollections of him during his playing days at UA?

 

[JessN]

My family's story is forever linked to his.

My father was a doctor for nearly 50 years in Monroe County, where Excel is. Lee Roy was a patient. My dad used to meet him and his dad at his office every Saturday and drain Lee Roy's knee. He did everything at UA and with the Cowboys on bad knees, just think of that.

Around about 1971, my dad got a call from Tuscaloosa. Specifically, from the guy heading up the team medical staff at the time (Dr. DeShazo?). "Nick, Paul wants you to come up here and join the team staff," he told my dad. And of course, "Paul" in this case was one Paul Bryant. Lee Roy had recommended him, apparently, and Dad had also been the doctor to other Bama players like K.J. Lazenby and Keith Pugh.

Dad turned Bryant down. He told him, "I'm sorry, but I just can't leave my patients." My dad had gone into medicine for a reason. He was the victim of a botched surgical procedure at age 8; by the time he got through the woods, he weighed just 32 pounds. He was going to take over the family farm one day but then Pearl Harbor got bombed, Dad went off to Midway with the Marines, and came back with a GI Bill. He said "I had figured that world had enough farmers; what we needed in the rural areas were better doctors," and that is what he became.

I often wonder what it would have been like to grow up in Tuscaloosa in the Bryant heyday. But I'm proud of what my dad chose to do. And I did get to meet Coach Bryant once, with my dad, when I was a little boy, just around 6 years old or so. I still remember shaking his hand.

Lee Roy was always Dad's favorite player. Dad's been gone a while now. Maybe he and Lee Roy are catching up on old times.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

My family's story is forever linked to his.

My father was a doctor for nearly 50 years in Monroe County, where Excel is. Lee Roy was a patient. My dad used to meet him and his dad at his office every Saturday and drain Lee Roy's knee. He did everything at UA and with the Cowboys on bad knees, just think of that.

Around about 1971, my dad got a call from Tuscaloosa. Specifically, from the guy heading up the team medical staff at the time (Dr. DeShazo?). "Nick, Paul wants you to come up here and join the team staff," he told my dad. And of course, "Paul" in this case was one Paul Bryant. Lee Roy had recommended him, apparently, and Dad had also been the doctor to other Bama players like K.J. Lazenby and Keith Pugh.

Dad turned Bryant down. He told him, "I'm sorry, but I just can't leave my patients." My dad had gone into medicine for a reason. He was the victim of a botched surgical procedure at age 8; by the time he got through the woods, he weighed just 32 pounds. He was going to take over the family farm one day but then Pearl Harbor got bombed, Dad went off to Midway with the Marines, and came back with a GI Bill. He said "I had figured that world had enough farmers; what we needed in the rural areas was better doctors," and that is what he became.

I often wonder what it would have been like to grow up in Tuscaloosa in the Bryant heyday. But I'm proud of what my dad chose to do. And I did get to meet Coach Bryant once, with my dad, when I was a little boy, just around 6 years old or so. I still remember shaking his hand.

Lee Roy was always Dad's favorite player. Dad's been gone a while now. Maybe he and Lee Roy are catching up on old times.

Lee Roy was my dad's favorite player as well.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I did grow up in Tuscaloosa during both of Bryant’s heydays. Being born in 1959, I was a bit young to fully grasp the 1961-66 fun. But I do have a few slightly fuzzy memories of that time — unfortunately none of those memories involve Lee Roy in real time

I was 12 and listening to the 1971 debut of the wishbone against USCw on WUOA-FM. Going through junior high and high school in the 70s, and graduating college in 1981, I do have full and colorful memory of the second heyday. And of the doubts that were quietly voiced during the 1968-70 years.

Then I was a married adult in the early 2000s, and able to participate fully in the Saban dynasty.

It’s been a great ride. No complaints whatsoever. Even today.

 

[mlh]

One of the best to ever play the game.

 

[December05]

My family's story is forever linked to his.

My father was a doctor for nearly 50 years in Monroe County, where Excel is. Lee Roy was a patient. My dad used to meet him and his dad at his office every Saturday and drain Lee Roy's knee. He did everything at UA and with the Cowboys on bad knees, just think of that.

Around about 1971, my dad got a call from Tuscaloosa. Specifically, from the guy heading up the team medical staff at the time (Dr. DeShazo?). "Nick, Paul wants you to come up here and join the team staff," he told my dad. And of course, "Paul" in this case was one Paul Bryant. Lee Roy had recommended him, apparently, and Dad had also been the doctor to other Bama players like K.J. Lazenby and Keith Pugh.

Dad turned Bryant down. He told him, "I'm sorry, but I just can't leave my patients." My dad had gone into medicine for a reason. He was the victim of a botched surgical procedure at age 8; by the time he got through the woods, he weighed just 32 pounds. He was going to take over the family farm one day but then Pearl Harbor got bombed, Dad went off to Midway with the Marines, and came back with a GI Bill. He said "I had figured that world had enough farmers; what we needed in the rural areas were better doctors," and that is what he became.

I often wonder what it would have been like to grow up in Tuscaloosa in the Bryant heyday. But I'm proud of what my dad chose to do. And I did get to meet Coach Bryant once, with my dad, when I was a little boy, just around 6 years old or so. I still remember shaking his hand.

Lee Roy was always Dad's favorite player. Dad's been gone a while now. Maybe he and Lee Roy are catching up on old times.

What a great tribute to your father as well as Mr. Jordan. Athletes healing back then before many of the advances of modern medicine particularly regarding joint injuries… It took tough men just to sustain through the chronic pain from that.