74 days to kickoff, the NFL is drawing near. Let’s look at the best defensive player for the Dallas Cowboys: Bob Lilly #74. Lilly is a Hall of Fame defensive tackle and a Cowboys Ring of Honor inductee. Lilly was one of the key pieces in multiple Super Bowl appearances, winning in Super Bowl VI in 1971.
74 Days to Kickoff, Let’s Look at Bob Lilly’s (#74) Career as a Dallas Cowboy
Bob Lilly’s Early Days
Lilly was a star early in his high school career, but he was forced out of his hometown by the severe drought in the 1950s. Lilly and his family moved from Throckmorton, Texas to Pendleton, Oregon where he was named all-state in football as well as second-team all-state in basketball. The high school star accepted an athletic scholarship from Texas Christian University, starting three out of four seasons before earning a spot on the All-American team in 1960.
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Professional Career
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Lilly in the first round after a merry-go-round of draft pick trading. Dallas traded their first-round pick to acquire Eddie LeBaron. They also traded their number 4 overall pick and Paul Dickson to acquire the 13th overall pick from the Cleveland Browns. Dallas used this 13th overall pick to draft Bob Lilly, the first draft pick in franchise history.
Lilly started his career as a defensive end. Eventually, legendary coach Tom Landry converted Lilly to defensive tackle. This move solidified the “Doomsday Defense,” for the Cowboys in the 60’s and 70’s. Dallas and Lilly made it to the Super Bowl in 1970 only to lose to the Baltimore Colts on a last-second field goal 16-13. Lilly and the Cowboys made it to the Super Bowl again in 1971, only to win convincingly. Dallas defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3 featuring a Bob Lilly 29-yard sack against Bob Griese, the signature play in Bob Lilly’s career.
Mr. Cowboy
Lilly earned many accolades throughout his career. He was named an All-Pro seven times. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981 and the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980. The legendary defensive tackle was the first inductee into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1975. “Mr. Cowboy,” is one of the best and most decorated players in all of Dallas history.
Lilly was widely regarded as a great player. “The Sporting News,” listed Lilly number 10 on the list of the “100 Greatest Football Players,” in 1999. At this time, he was the highest-ranked defensive lineman and the highest-ranked Dallas Cowboys. During his career, he started 196 out of 196 games. He recorded one interception, returning that pick 17 yards for a touchdown.
The Unstoppable Force
Lilly was different than other players in his time. He boasted size, speed, agility, and conditioning with the ability to pressure offenses for the entire game. Bob Lilly was described to make tackles from sideline to sideline for the Dallas Cowboys. He was referred to as the “unblockable, unstoppable, force of the Doomsday Defense.”
Life After Football
Bob Lilly also spent time with the team after he retired. He took photography as a hobby and traveled with the team and his 35-mm Kodak. Lilly started his hobby and began carrying his camera while he was still playing for Dallas. Mr. Cowboy then started and operated a beer distribution business until 1982. Lilly sold the beer distribution company after seeing the impact of alcohol and drunk driving, after witnessing a traffic accident. After experimenting with beer distribution, he moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico until 1989. He started his own landscape photography career and opened an art gallery. In 1989 Lilly moved back to Texas. He is now a grandfather to twelve and has three great-grandchildren.
Lilly was named Mr. Football due to his uncanny ability to dominate an offense from sideline to sideline. He was the first Cowboy drafted, Pro and College Hall of Fame Inductee, and the first Cowboy inducted into the Ring of Honor. Lilly also brought a Super Bowl to Dallas in 1970. He is one of the greatest players in Dallas Cowboys history. With 74 days to kickoff, Dallas fans will be thinking back to Lilly and comparing recent greats to his dominant play and incredible durability.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
