View source for Lee Roy Jordan

{{Short description|American football player (1941–2025)}}
{{for|the musician|Leroy Jordan}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Lee Roy Jordan
| image         =
| caption       = 
| position      = [[Linebacker]]<!--[[Center (American football)|Center]]-->
| number        = 55
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1941|4|27|mf=y}}<ref name=NYT-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/obituaries/lee-roy-jordan-dead.html|title=Lee Roy Jordan, Ferocious Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, Dies at 84|work=The New York Times|first=Alex|last= Traub|date=August 31, 2025|accessdate=September 5, 2025}}</ref>
| birth_place   = [[Excel, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2025|08|30|1941|4|27|mf=y}}
| death_place   = [[Dallas, Texas]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 1
| weight_lbs    = 221
| draftyear     = 1963
| draftround    = 1
| draftpick     = 6
| afldraftyear  = 1963
| afldraftround = 2
| afldraftpick  = 14
| high_school   = [[Excel High School (Alabama)|Excel]]
| college       = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] (1960–1962)
| teams         =
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1963}}–{{NFL Year|1976}})
| highlights    =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VI|VI]])
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]], [[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1968 Pro Bowl|1967]]–[[1970 Pro Bowl|1969]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]])
* [[Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor]]
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|NCAA national champion]] ([[1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1961]])
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1962 College Football All-America Team|1962]])
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1962 All-SEC football team|1962]])
* Second-team All-SEC ([[1961 All-SEC football team|1961]])
| statlabel1    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1    = 32
| statlabel2    = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue2    = 3
| statlabel3    = Games played
| statvalue3    = 186
| pfr           = JordLe00
| CollegeHOF    = 1876 
}}

'''Lee Roy Jordan''' (April 27, 1941 – August 30, 2025) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for 14 seasons with the [[Dallas Cowboys]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1963 to 1976. He played [[college football]] for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the [[1963 NFL draft]]. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1983.<ref name="caothyl">{{Cite news |last=Lebreton |first=Gil |date=November 26, 1989 |title=Cowboys are only 13 years late in honoring Lee Roy Jordan |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/11/26/cowboys-are-only-13-years-late-in-honoring-lee-roy-jordan/ |access-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311110957/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-11-26/sports/8903130511_1_linebacker-lee-roy-jordan-washington-and-lee-cowboys-flex|archive-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="hof83">{{Cite news |date=December 15, 1983 |title=Lee Roy Jordan among hall of fame inductees |page=15 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pjQdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3438%2C1548560}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born and raised in [[Excel, Alabama]],<ref name=NYT-obit /> Jordan was the fifth of seven children of Walter Sr. and Cleo Jordan. He had three older brothers: Walter Jr., Carl, and Bennie Ray and three sisters: Lottie, Agnes, and Darlene (who died at age two, of [[leukemia]]).<ref name=caothyl/><ref name="obglrbj">{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1963 |title=Orange Bowl gave Lee Roy 'biggest jitters' |page=7 |work=Gadsden Times |agency=Associated Press |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=he4hAAAAIBAJ&pg=4000%2C281255}}</ref> He was a standout at [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] at [[Excel High School (Alabama)|Excel High School]] and graduated in 1959.<ref name="bggrfwd">{{Cite news |last=Land |first=Charles |date=March 21, 1965 |title=Bigger Lee Roy Jordan is looking to bigger things |page=13 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pv4cAAAAIBAJ&pg=6878%2C2893316}}</ref>

==College career==
Jordan excelled as both a [[linebacker]] and [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] at the [[University of Alabama]].<ref name=obglrbj/> In his sophomore season of [[1960 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1960]], he helped the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Crimson Tide]] finish with an 8–1–2 record. In the [[Bluebonnet Bowl]] versus the [[1960 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas Longhorns]], he was named the game's [[most valuable player]] (MVP) in a 3–3 tie.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 18, 1960 |title=Texas Longhorns Tie Alabama, 3 to 3 On Final Period Field Goal by Petty |page=2C |agency=Associated Press |publisher=The Hartford Courant |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/913388262.html?dids=913388262:913388262&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604120202/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/913388262.html?dids=913388262:913388262&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=September 28, 2009}}</ref>

The [[1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|following year]], Jordan was again an important part of the team as Alabama finished with an 11–0 record, a [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) championship, and the [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national championship]]. The season included six shutouts, which included a 34–0 win over rival [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]]. Led by senior quarterback [[Pat Trammell]] (1940–1968), Alabama wrapped up the season with a 10–3 victory over [[1961 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas]] in the [[1962 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]].<ref name="msapsb">{{Cite news |last=Smits |first=Ted |date=January 2, 1963 |title='Bama wins in 'Sugar,' 10-3; proves No. 1 rating |page=2, part 2 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5GBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=1596%2C855585}}</ref>

In his senior season in [[1962 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1962]], the Crimson Tide fell short of another national championship with a 10–1 record with sophomore quarterback [[Joe Namath]]. The loss was by one point at [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]] in mid-November, their first defeat in over two years.<ref name="gthbma">{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1962 |title=Georgia Tech halts 'Bama |page=4B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |location=Oregon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZtozAAAAIBAJ&pg=6731%2C3398847}}</ref> In his final game for the Tide, Jordan recorded 31 tackles in a 17–0 victory over [[1962 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]] in the [[1963 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]], attended by President [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref name="bhatsnr">{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1963 |title=Ball hawking Alabama trips Sooners, 17-0 |page=4, part 2 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EeoVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5942%2C594650}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1963 |title=Bama Blanks Sooners in Orange Bowl, 17-0 |page=B9 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/468962072.html?dids=468962072:468962072&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604120215/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/468962072.html?dids=468962072:468962072&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=September 28, 2009}}</ref> For his performance, he received his second MVP award in a bowl game. At the end of his senior year, he received unanimous [[1962 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] status and the Lineman of the Year award.<ref name="vtdbtcl">{{Cite news |date=December 14, 1962 |title=Lee Roy Jordan voted best college lineman |page=28 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=Florida |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HrgqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6897%2C3065991}}</ref><ref name="CF HOF">{{College Football HoF|id=1876|name=Lee Roy Jordan|access-date=September 28, 2009}}</ref>

During his career for Alabama, Jordan received high praise from coach [[Bear Bryant]], who stated, "He was one of the finest football players the world has ever seen. If runners stayed between the sidelines, he tackled them. He never had a bad day, he was 100 percent every day in practice and in the games."<ref name="CF HOF" />

In early August 1963 in [[Chicago]], he was part of the [[Chicago College All-Star Game|College All-Star]] team that defeated the [[1962 NFL Championship Game|defending champion]] [[1963 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]].<ref name=bggrfwd/><ref name="msblpkuas">{{Cite news |last=Lea |first=Bud |author-link=Bud Lea |date=August 3, 1963 |title=All-Stars upset Packers |page=2, part 2 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R80wAAAAIBAJ&pg=7296%2C487890 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="tnasups">{{Cite news |last=Chamberlain |first=Charles |date=August 3, 1963 |title=All-Stars upset Packers |work=Tuscaloosa News |agency=Associated Press |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0hsfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6822%2C260477}}</ref>

In 1980, he was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]]. In 1983, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name=hof83/> In 1988, he received the [[Silver Anniversary Awards|NCAA Silver Anniversary Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-Time Honors Award Winners |url=https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2018/2/5/all-time-honors-award-winners.aspx |access-date=June 27, 2022 |website=NCAA.org}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Jordan was selected sixth overall in the [[1963 NFL draft]] by the [[1963 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], and was the 14th overall pick in the [[1963 American Football League draft|AFL draft]], taken by the [[1963 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]]. He chose the [[NFL]] and signed in early January.<ref name="lrswdls">{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1963 |title=Lee Roy signs with Dallas |page=8 |work=Gadsden Times |agency=UPI |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=he4hAAAAIBAJ&pg=2286%2C288337}}</ref> During preseason in [[1963 Dallas Cowboys season|1963]] he was named the Cowboys' [[Linebacker#Weakside linebacker|weakside linebacker]] and became the first rookie linebacker in franchise history to start a season opener.<ref name=yahoo-obit>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nfl-cowboys-linebacker-legend-jordan-183507591.html|title=NFL Cowboys linebacker legend Jordan dead at 84|work=Yahoo! Sports|via=AFP|date=August 30, 2025|accessdate=September 3, 2025}}</ref>

He shared time with [[Jerry Tubbs]] at [[middle linebacker]] in [[1965 Dallas Cowboys season|1965]],<ref name="fgafsit">{{Cite news |last=Land |first=Charles |date=December 24, 1965 |title=Lee Roy feels good about future, wherever it is |page=5 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NhAdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6944%2C4732508}}</ref> then took over and teamed up with [[Chuck Howley]] and [[Dave Edwards (linebacker)|Dave Edwards]] as part of the [[Doomsday Defense]].<ref name=yahoo-obit /> His teammates nicknamed him "Killer".<ref name=chron>{{cite web|url=https://chroniclet.com/news/441772/lee-roy-jordan-the-dean-of-cowboys-fabled-doomsday-defense-dies-at-84/|title=Lee Roy Jordan, the dean of Cowboys' fabled Doomsday Defense, dies at 84|work=The Chronicle|via=The Dallas Morning News|first=Kevin|last=Sherrington|date=August 30, 2025|accessdate=September 3, 2025}}</ref>

In [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|1971]], he had a team-record 21 tackles against [[1971 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] on September 26.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Monk |first=Ccody |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PI1x47yC78YC&q=legends+of+the+dallas+cowboys&pg=PP1 |title=Legends of the Dallas Cowboys |year=2004 |publisher=Sports Publishing LLC |isbn=9781582617077}}</ref> On November 4, [[1973 Dallas Cowboys season|1973]], he intercepted three passes in the first quarter from the [[1973 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]' [[Ken Anderson (quarterback)|Ken Anderson]] within the span of five minutes, returning one 31 yards for a [[touchdown]].<ref name=cowboys-obit/> The interceptions were collectively named one of the 10 most memorable moments in the history of [[Texas Stadium]] by [[ESPN]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luksa |first=Frank |date=September 15, 2008 |title=Luksa: Top 10 memorable Texas Stadium moments |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=luksa_frank&page=hotread1/luksa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104201446/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=luksa_frank&page=hotread1%2Fluksa |archive-date=November 4, 2008 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

===Legacy===
Jordan was usually the smallest [[middle linebacker]] in the league at only {{height|ft=6|in=1}} and {{convert|220|lb}},<ref name=chron /> but his competitiveness and drive made up for his lack of size. Head coach [[Tom Landry]] said of Jordan, "He was a great competitor. He was not big for a middle linebacker, but because of his competitiveness, he was able to play the game and play it well. His leadership was there and he demanded a lot out of the people around him as he did of himself."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Untitled |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/history_roh_player.cfm?art=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029102117/http://www.dallascowboys.com/history_roh_player.cfm?art=4 |archive-date=October 29, 2004 |access-date=October 13, 2004}}</ref> He ran Landry's "Flex" defense on the field with unmatched intensity and efficiency. He watched game film endlessly; his contract included a projector for his home.<ref name=chron />

He became the franchise's all-time leader in solo tackles (743) in his 14 seasons with the Cowboys.<ref name=roh>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ring-of-honor-lee-roy-jordan|title= Ring of Honor: Lee Roy Jordan|date=June 5, 2018 |work=Dallas Cowboys|accessdate=September 4, 2024}}</ref> He was a two-time [[All-Pro]] and a five-time [[Pro Bowl]]er.<ref name=cowboys-obit/> He also helped the Cowboys to three [[Super Bowl]]s and five [[NFC Championship Game|NFC Championship]] games.<ref name=roh /> Jordan was an able defender against the run and pass, and had a penchant for recovering loose footballs. He remains tied for second in club history with 18 career fumble recoveries.<ref name=pfr>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/career-defense.htm|title= Dallas Cowboys Career Defense Leaders |work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=September 4, 2025}}</ref>

Jordan still ranks second in Cowboys' history in career solo tackles with 743, second in career assisted tackles with 493, second in combined total tackles with 1,236,<ref name=cowboys-obit/> and second with 154 consecutive starts (behind [[Jason Witten]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2025/08/30/cowboys-lee-roy-jordan-obituary/85915069007/|title=Cowboys Ring of Honor member Lee Roy Jordan passes away at 84|work=USA Today - Cowboys Wire|first=Todd|last=Brock|date=August 30, 2025|accessdate=September 4, 2025}}</ref> He also holds the third- and fourth-highest totals of solo tackles in a single season with 100 in [[1975 Dallas Cowboys season|1975]] and 97 in [[1968 Dallas Cowboys season|1968]].<ref name=roh /> In his 14 NFL seasons, he intercepted 32 passes (seventh in club history), returning them for 472 yards and three touchdowns.<ref name=pfr />

In 1988, he was among 15 finalists for induction into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], but did not make the cut (among those finalists, [[Lou Rymkus]] and he are the only ones who did not eventually become elected into the Hall).<ref name="Rymkus Hall finalist">{{cite news|title=Ditka, Griese pass first step to Fame|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u5QsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8vsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2089,6600625&dq=rymkus+scout+chiefs&hl=en|access-date=August 8, 2012|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date=January 15, 1988|agency=Associated Press|location=Canton, Ohio|page=5D}}</ref> In [[1989 Dallas Cowboys season|1989]], he became the seventh member of the [[Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor]].<ref name=caothyl/> He was the first member inducted by [[Jerry Jones]].<ref name=cowboys-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-legend-lee-roy-jordan-ring-of-honor-member-passes-away-at-84|title= Cowboys legend Lee Roy Jordan, Ring of Honor member, passes away at 84 |work=Dallas Cowboys|date= August 30, 2025|first=Kurt|last= Daniels}}</ref>

In 2018, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Jordan to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2018.html |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920190718/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2018.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Jordan married his college sweetheart, Mary "Biddie" Banks of [[Eutaw, Alabama|Eutaw]], and they had three sons.<ref name=fgafsit/><ref name="hlbllrj">{{Cite news |last=Berkow |first=Ira |date=June 27, 1974 |title=Revealed: how love blitzed Lee Roy Jordan |page=4C |work=Ocala Star-Banner |agency=NEA |location=Florida |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HXhPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7230%2C6471706}}</ref><ref name=caothyl/> After his football career, he managed the Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Company, headquartered in Dallas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lee Roy Jordan Lumber Company |url=http://www.jordanredwood.com/about.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508015557/http://www.jordanredwood.com/about.html|archive-date=May 8, 2017|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref> Jordan died at a hospice in [[Dallas, Texas]] due to kidney failure on August 30, 2025, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Roy Jordan, the dean of Cowboys' fabled Doomsday Defense, dies at 84|url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2025/aug/30/lee-roy-jordan-the-dean-of-cowboys-fabled/|date=August 30, 2025|publisher=Texarkana Gazette|access-date=September 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=August 30, 2025 |title=Former Cowboys star Lee Roy Jordan dies at 84 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/former-cowboys-star-lee-roy-jordan-dies-at-84 |access-date=August 30, 2025 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walter |first=McKenzie |date=August 30, 2025 |title=Former Alabama National Champion, Lee Roy Jordan passes way |url=https://www.wvua23.com/sports/former-alabama-national-champion-lee-roy-jordan-passes-way/article_ddbb356e-4794-4278-8d3c-98f0fd5ebe80.html |access-date=September 3, 2025 |website=WVUA 23 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players#Linebackers|Most consecutive starts by a middle linebacker]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|id=1876}}
* {{IMDb name|1769779}}
* [http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2009/07/10/cowboys-top-50-players-11-15 Dallas Cowboys Top 50 players]
* [https://ashof.org/inductees/lee-roy-jordan/ Alabama Sports Hall of Fame] – Lee Roy Jordan
* {{Footballstats |nfl=lee-roy-jordan |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=JordLe00 |dbf=JORDALEE01}}

{{1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{1963 NFL draft}}
{{Boston Patriots 1963 AFL draft picks}}
{{Dallas Cowboys 1963 NFL draft picks}}
{{Dallas Cowboys first-round draft picks}}
{{Super Bowl VI}}
{{Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor}}
{{1962 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Lee Roy}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Monroe County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Alabama]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]