Today in Sports History: Tom Landry

February 12, 2000

Tom Landry Passes Away

The Texas State Cemetery is located just blocks away from the state Capital.  It is reserved mainly for politicians and for those, who, according to its web site, “…made a significant contribution to Texas history and culture.” 

Tom Landry spent the overwhelming majority of his life in the Lone Star State.  Born September 11, 1924 in Mission, Texas, the only times he would spend not living in Texas were when he served his country in World War II, and during his playing and coaching days in New York. 

He played one season, 1949, for the New York Yankees of the All-American Football Conference.  After that league folded, Tom made his way cross town to play for the Giants.  Landry’s playing career was not spectacular, although he did have 32 interceptions in just 80 games.

Landry’s coaching career actually began before his playing days ended.  While a young Vince Lombardi was the Giants’ offensive coordinator, Landry began running the defense in 1954.  Following his retirement as a player, Landry stayed in the Big Apple to run the Giants’ defense.  The team would appear in 3 NFL Championship games in 4 years.  They throttled the Chicago Bears in 1956, but they lost to the Baltimore Colts in ’58 and ’59.

1960 saw the addition of a new NFL team.  Dallas Cowboys owners Clint Murchison, Jr., and Bedford Wynne signed Tom Landry to a personal services contract December 27^th, 1959.  It was with the understanding that Landry would be named as the team’s first head coach when they were officially awarded a franchise.   They were, and they did.

The Cowboys first game under Landry was September 24^th, 1960, in Dallas against Pittsburgh.  In front of 30,000, the Cowboys dropped the opener 35-28.  They would lose the next 27-25, and the next 26-14, and the next 48-7, and the next, and the next.  In fact, in that first season, the best that America’s Team could do was muster a 31-31 tie in New York.  The Cowboys, America’s team, went 0-11-1 in their inaugural season. 

The next season, things looked better.  The Cowboys won 4 of their first 7 games.  However, things collapsed as they lost 6 of their next 7 to finish the season.  In fact, the team never reached .500 until the 1965 season. 

1966 was a turning point in the franchise’s history.  They finished the regular season with a 10-3-1 record winning the Eastern Conference title.  However, they lost in the championship game to Landry’s old coaching mate, Vince Lombardi, who was now guiding things in Green Bay.  The teams would meet a year later in the now famous Ice Bowl of 1967.  The Packers won that game as well.  However, the seeds of future success were being laid. 

Eventually, Landry would guide the Cowboys to 5 Super Bowl wins, 5 NFC championships, and 250 regular season wins.  He was let go by new owner Jerry Jones February 26^th, 1989. 

Personally, Landry was married to his wife Alicia for 51 years.  The couple had 3 children.

Tom Landry now rests in the Texas State Cemetery.  He passed away this date in the year 2000.