Iowa Hawkeyes Legend John Niland, Key Piece of Cowboys' First Super Bowl Team, Dies at 82

John Niland, the Iowa Hawkeyes All-American who became the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round in Dallas Cowboys history and helped deliver the franchise's first Super Bowl title, died Saturday at his home in McKinney, Texas. He was 82. His family confirmed his death.

Niland, a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, spent nine seasons in Dallas before finishing his career with Philadelphia in 1975. He was inducted into Iowa's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

From Long Island Orphanage to Iowa Stardom

Niland grew up an orphan in Amityville, Long Island, with little money and few expectations of ever attending college. His foster mother was 50 when she adopted him, and he was her only child. Football changed his path entirely.

After emerging as a standout in high school, scholarship offers suddenly gave him an opportunity his family could never have afforded. Niland turned down Syracuse and Notre Dame and chose Iowa, where he became an All-American.

In 1966, the Cowboys selected him fifth overall, making him the first offensive lineman in franchise history taken in the first round. He started just four games as a rookie, then became a fixture in 1967. He started 111 of 124 games over nine seasons in Dallas.

Family Remembers 'Bigger Than Life' Father

His daughter Haven remembers him as more than just a football player.

He was the best dad. He was so wonderful. I mean, he was really bigger than life. He taught me so many amazing things. He taught me nothing is that serious. The things that really matter are family and your faith and just being kind to other people. I think that's really exemplified.

Haven credited her mother, Shaughn, for supporting him through his declining health. Even with his health declining, Haven said her father never stopped showing up for the people around him.

He was in a house full of girls, so he was outnumbered. He was completely outnumbered, but we were up early Saturday mornings. He loved to clean out the garage. He loved to organize stuff. And so everybody had a job all the time, and he provided everything we could ever want. It was the team mentality. We were the Nilands. I'm married now, but I'm still a Niland. So I'm very proud to represent and keep hearing the name.

Super Bowl VI: The Defining Moment

If there's one memory that stood out above the rest for Niland, it was the day he helped protect Roger Staubach in Super Bowl VI, when Dallas beat Miami 24 to 3 on January 16, 1972.

Behind Dallas' rise was Tom Landry, the first head coach in Cowboys history and the man who helped turn the franchise into an NFL powerhouse. Landry coached Dallas from 1960 to 1988, leading the team to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships. In a 2018 interview, Niland called him a very strong leader, extreme family man, and extremely successful at coaching.

The Physical Cost of Football

The years after football took a heavy toll. Niland battled dementia and mouth cancer and underwent knee and shoulder replacements. His family plans to donate his brain to Boston University's CTE Center.

Speaking in a 2018 interview for Pro Players Business Network, Niland was direct about what football had done to his body.

You sacrifice your entire body. It's not a matter of if you get hurt, you're going to get hurt. I can't remember things but I can walk and talk; I can't run across my bedroom... I have no stability in my legs anymore.

Despite it all, Niland said he would do it all over again, believing he could have played another five years if his body had held up. When asked whether money or love of football drove his career, his answer was clear.

I played for the love of the game. We had a bunch of players come in on my year and just play their hearts out. We finally won the Super Bowl. You can't ask for anything more.

What Happens Next

Niland is survived by his wife, Shaughn, and daughters Haven and Jordan. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Niland leaves behind a lasting place in both Iowa and Cowboys history as a key piece of the team that delivered the franchise's first Super Bowl title, remembered as one of Dallas' defining offensive linemen.