How did the former Dallas Cowboys legend die at 82?
John Niland, the former Dallas Cowboys guard who helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl, died Saturday morning, in McKinney, Texas. He was 82. His family confirmed his death, but no specific cause has been announced.Niland faced serious health problems after football, including dementia, knee and shoulder replacements and mouth cancer. His daughter, Haven Niland, also revealed that the family plans to donate his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center for research.
John Niland cause of death : What led to the former Cowboys star’s death at 82?
John Niland’s family shared more about his final years after his death. Haven spoke to “The Dallas Morning News, and described how his health problems affected the family for years.“I can’t remember a time when it didn’t impact our life,” Haven said. “It was a continuous discussion of dad’s got doctor’s appointments. He had a double knee replacement, and then later a double shoulder replacement, which led to staph in his spine. So his body was beat up and bruised and he broke his nose six times. We were always talking about it.”She also spoke about Niland’s cognitive decline and her belief that CTE played a major role.“We experienced a lot of hardships as a family. He was often confused later in life or angry for reasons he didn’t understand. We knew it was the CTE. We know it. We don’t need a test to tell us, but we know that he was. He knew himself he was so heavily impacted by that,” Haven said to The Dallas Morning News on August 16.However, Haven remembered her father for much more than his health struggles.“He was the best dad,” she said in the same interview. “He was so wonderful. I mean, he was really bigger than life. He taught me so many amazing things. I was talking to my sister [Saturday]. 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.”The family plans to donate Niland’s brain to Boston University’s CTE Center. He leaves behind his wife, Shaughn, and daughters Haven and Jordan.
John Niland’s Dallas Cowboys career made him a celebrated figure in NFL
Before those later struggles, John Niland built one of the strongest careers by an offensive lineman in Dallas Cowboys history.Dallas selected him fifth overall in the 1966 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He became the starting left guard in 1967 and played 124 games with 111 starts for the Cowboys.Niland made six straight Pro Bowls from 1968 through 1973. He earned first-team All-Pro honours in 1969, 1971 and 1972.His defining achievement came on January 16, 1972. Niland started at left guard as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI, giving Dallas its first Super Bowl championship.He also played in the famous Ice Bowl against the Green Bay Packers on December 31, 1967. Niland finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1975.
