The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys: 15 best first-round picks of all-time

By John Buhler

30 JAN 1994: RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FLASHES THE NUMBER ONE SIGN DURING THE COWBOYS 30-13 VICTORY OVER THE BUFFALO BILLS IN SUPER BOWL XXVIII AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SMITH RUSHED FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND WAS SELECT
30 JAN 1994: RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FLASHES THE NUMBER ONE SIGN DURING THE COWBOYS 30-13 VICTORY OVER THE BUFFALO BILLS IN SUPER BOWL XXVIII AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SMITH RUSHED FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND WAS SELECT /
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Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Best first-round draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history: 12. Lee Roy Jordan

We’re going old school here a bit, but no doubt that former Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan was going to make the cut. He comes in here at No. 12. Dallas took the former All-American and national champion out of Alabama No. 6 overall in the 1963 NFL Draft.

Jordan played for two of the most iconic head football coaches ever in Paul “Bear” Bryant and Tom Landry. Both had an affinity for wearing trademark hats. Interestingly enough, both share the same birthday: September 11th. More importantly, Jordan was spectacular playing for both legendary football coaches.

Jordan spent his entire 14-year NFL career playing for the Cowboys from 1963 to 1976. He made five trips to the Pro Bowl, earning All-Pro honors in 1969. In 1973, Jordan would be named NFC Defensive Player of the Year. Jordan would be an important part of the 1971 Cowboys team that won its first Super Bowl over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.

Since hanging up the spikes, Jordan has been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, as well as making it into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. While Canton enshrinement still evades him, perhaps one day Jordan will reach football’s highest honor. Until then, he remains an all-time great Cowboy and a cornerstone in Dallas’ football legacy.

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