Dallas Cowboys legend John Niland, who helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl, died on Saturday. The 82-year-old offensive guard spent nine years in Dallas, making 111 starts in 124 games played for the Cowboys.
Fans React to Cowboys Icon John Niland’s Death
His daughter, Haven, revealed to Dallas News that Niland had several operations, contracted a staph infection in his spine, and had mouth cancer. She also revealed that his family believed that he suffered from CTE and that his brain would be donated to Boston University’s CTE Center for study.
NFL fans on X were distraught by the news of Niland’s death:
Alex, a Los Angeles Rams fan, paid homage to the former Cowboys guard. “He was a good one. RIP John Niland,” Alex wrote.
He was a good one. RIP John Niland.
— AlexLARams (@AlexLARams) August 17, 2026
Cowboys fan Dale Smith reminisced on Niland’s unique playing style during his career. He said, “I can still see Niland leading the charge on that outside run.”
One fan remembered meeting Niland long after his career was over. “Damn. I met him in 2014, great guy,” the fan posted.
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A long-time Cowboys fan was saddened by the franchise icon’s death. “Oh no… I’m so sorry to read this. All our heroes are passing on…” the Cowboys fan wrote.
Oh no… I’m so sorry to read this. All our heroes are passing on… ✭
— PlayballerDC (@PlayballerDC) August 17, 2026
Ken Reynolds praised Niland’s reliability at guard for the Cowboys by writing, “Old reliable at guard, solid as a rock who rarely missed a snap.”
Scott Knudsen paid his respects to the Cowboys icon and posted: “RIP Big John. Cowboys mainstay.”
RIP Big John. Cowboys mainstay.
— Scott M Knudsen (@F1ScottieKPush) August 17, 2026
Niland started his college football career with the Iowa Hawkeyes as a fullback before being moved to offensive tackle and finally to offensive guard. Despite playing for a poor Iowa team, Niland earned first-team All-American honors in 1965 and was an All-Big Ten selection in his senior year. He was inducted into the Hawkeyes’ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
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The offensive guard was selected No. 5 overall in the 1966 NFL Draft and was the first offensive lineman selected in the first round in Cowboys history.
Niland quickly established himself as one of the league’s best offensive linemen, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections between 1968 and 1973. In addition, he earned three first-team All-Pro selections.
He was a key cog in the team that won the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl by beating the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in 1972. In nine seasons in Dallas, he missed only two games and is a member of the Cowboys All-Time Team.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1975 for a third-round draft pick, and after an injury-plagued season, he retired from the league.
