John Niland, a three-time All-Pro guard who helped the Dallas Cowboys secure their first Super Bowl victory, has died at the age of 82. Niland's daughter, Haven, confirmed his passing on Saturday morning in McKinney, Texas.
Niland spent nine seasons with the Cowboys, making 111 starts in 124 games. He was a pivotal part of the offensive line that protected quarterback Roger Staubach, contributing to the Cowboys' 24-3 triumph over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972. Before retiring after the 1975 season, he also played one year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
His impressive performance earned him six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1968 to 1973, and he was named a first-team All-Pro in 1969, 1971, and 1972. A native of Massachusetts, Niland played college football at Iowa before being drafted by the Cowboys as the fifth overall pick in the 1966 NFL Draft. He was later inducted into the Hawkeyes’ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following his retirement from football, Niland faced significant health challenges, including dementia and mouth cancers. His family has stated their intention to donate his brain to Boston University's CTE Center for further research into the disease, which is linked to football. According to his daughter, Niland's health struggles were a long-term family issue, involving multiple surgeries and complications.
Niland is survived by his wife, Shaughn, and their daughters, Jordan and Haven.