“Don Meredith was a Dallas Cowboys original. His wit, charm, and strength of personality were matched only by his wonderful leadership, toughness and athletic skill. His persona defined the Cowboys of the 1960s and set the course for what the franchise became. Throughout 50 years of history, the Cowboys legacy has been built by dynamic and colorful personalities who could also compete at the highest level. No one fit that description better than Don Meredith.

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“Dandy Don” was one of the Cowboys first star players and appeared in three Pro Bowls and earned the Bert Bell Award during his nine year career. Meredith led the Cowboys to division titles in three straight years.

After his unexpected retirement, Meredith joined the original Monday Night Football crew that included Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell. Many were surprised by his early departure from the team, but they tried to get him back.

“I tried to talk him out of it,” Dallas head coach Tom Landry said. “But when you lose your desire in this game, that’s it.”

Jay Harris of ESPN takes a look back at the life of Don Meredith in the video below. RIP “Dandy Don.”