D.D. Lewis, a cornerstone linebacker of the Dallas Cowboys’ famed Doomsday Defense and a two-time Super Bowl champion, has died at the age of 79.
Lewis spent his entire career as a member of the Cowboys and is remembered as one of the franchise’s most dependable linebackers during an era that included five Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.
Selected by the Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1968 NFL Draft, Lewis put together an incredibly impressive career during his time in the league.
Lewis spent one year serving in the military before returning to the Cowboys for the 1970 season, where he spent time as a backup linebacker before emerging as a full-time starter in 1973.
This impressive career included Lewis missing just four regular-season games across that 13-season span, playing in a remarkable 132 out of 134 possible games from 1973 to 1981, according to The Cowboys.
Lewis played in Super Bowls V, VI, X, XII, and XIII, capturing titles in 1972 and 1978 and cementing his reputation as a player who was built for the biggest stage in all of football.
Over the course of his career, Lew once held the record for the most playoff games in NFL history with 27, a mark that has only been surpassed by two non-kickers since he retired in 1981.
Although Lewis was not a high draft selection, he managed to put together an illustrious football career that included multiple recognitions by the time it came to a close.
During his collegiate career, Lewis was named an All-American and was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
One of the most notable pieces of lore regarding Lewis comes from a statement he made off the field, in the form of a single sentence, in which he said, “Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play.”