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2022 Johnny Stallings Award Recipient — Lee Roy Jordan


Lee Roy Jordan was a great football player – one of the best middle linebackers to ever play the game.


Recruited to Alabama by a Bear Bryant assistant named Gene Stallings, Jordan had a stellar collegiate career. He led a record setting defense to a national championship in 1961. He was voted a first-team All-American in 1962. In his final game at Alabama he was named the MVP of the Orange Bowl with a 31-tackle performance against Oklahoma.


In 1963, Jordan was a first-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys. He became an immediate starter and anchored the “Doomsday Defense” for 14 seasons.


His leadership and competitiveness are what made Jordan such a great player, according to late Cowboys head coach Tom Landry. "He was not big for a middle linebacker, but because of his competitiveness, he was able to play the game and play it well. He demanded as much out of the people around him as he did of himself."


Jordan went to five Pro Bowls, played in three Super Bowls, and retired as the franchise’s all-time leading tackler. He also had 50 takeaways (32 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries). He once intercepted three passes in one quarter. In 1973, he was named NFC defensive player of the year.


Lee Roy Jordan is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and was the first person inducted to the Cowboys Ring of Honor by Jerry Jones.


His years of service to the communities of North Texas and Alabama are also remarkable. He is a past president and chairman of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Leukemia Society. As president of the Dallas chapter of the NFL Alumni Association, whose motto is “caring for kids”, Jordan created what has become known as the annual Kick-Off luncheon. He has also been a longtime dedicated member of the Salesmanship Club.

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