Former Cowboys Offensive Guard John Niland Passes Away at 82

John Niland, a former offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys, passed away on Saturday morning in McKinney, Texas, as confirmed by his family on Sunday. He was 82 years old.

Niland was selected by the Cowboys as the fifth overall pick in the 1966 NFL draft after playing college football at Iowa. He spent nine of his ten seasons with the Cowboys, earning six Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors. Notably, he participated in the 1967 Ice Bowl and was the starting left guard during Super Bowl VI, where the Cowboys secured their first championship.

Throughout his career with Dallas, Niland made 111 starts in 124 games. He concluded his playing career with one season at the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring in 1975. In 2006, he was inducted into the Hawkeyes’ Athletics Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Shaughn, and their daughters, Jordan and Haven.