Dallas Mourns the Loss of Super Bowl Champion D.D. Lewis at 79

Dallas, TX – September 17, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys and their fans are mourning the loss of franchise legend D.D. Lewis, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79.

Lewis, a sixth-round pick in the 1968 NFL Draft, went on to play 13 seasons in Dallas, becoming one of the most dependable linebackers in team history. He set a Cowboys record with 27 playoff appearances, including 12 divisional contests, nine NFC Championship Games, and five Super Bowl appearances. He won two titles, lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl VI and XII.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the youngest of 14 children, Lewis first made his mark at Mississippi State, where he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American in 1967. He was later inducted into the

College Football Hall of Fame (2001) and the Mississippi State Ring of Honor (2011).

His career was defined not just by longevity, but by impact. In the 1975 NFC Championship Game, Lewis intercepted two passes against the Los Angeles Rams, helping Dallas become the first wild-card team ever to reach the Super Bowl. When Chuck Howley retired in 1973, Lewis stepped into the weakside linebacker role and held it for eight seasons, cementing his reputation as a tough, intelligent defender.

Off the field, he was remembered for a now-iconic quote about Texas Stadium: “It has a hole in its roof so God can watch his favorite team play.” That line became part of Cowboys lore, reflecting both the team’s identity and Lewis’s wit.

After retiring, Lewis settled in Richardson, Texas, where he devoted his time to family and community. He volunteered with local Boys & Girls Clubs and supported charity golf tournaments and youth programs, embodying the same commitment to service he once showed on the field.

Former teammate Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson summed up Lewis’s impact: “D.D. was a great player. I wanted his job Day 1, but I never could get it because he played Landry’s defense perfectly. He was tough, and he made me better.”

For Cowboys Nation, the loss of D.D. Lewis is more than the passing of a player. It’s the farewell to a champion, a leader, and a man whose toughness and loyalty helped shape Dallas football history. His legacy will forever live in the star on the helmet and in the hearts of fans who watched him give everything to America’s Team.