American · Olney, Texas, USA · Born 26 July 1939Bob Lilly, nicknamed 'Mr. Cowboy', was a dominant defensive tackle who became the first Dallas Cowboys player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Born Robert Lewis Lilly on 26 July 1939 in Olney, Texas, Bob Lilly was a consensus All-American at TCU before the expansion Dallas Cowboys made him the franchise's first-ever draft selection in 1961. He initially played defensive end before moving to defensive tackle in his third season, where he became one of the most dominant interior linemen in NFL history. Lilly earned First-Team All-Pro honors every year from 1964 through 1969, and again in 1971, and was known as an equally devastating pass rusher and run defender despite constantly facing double- and even triple-team blocking. Remarkably durable, he played in 196 consecutive regular-season games, his only absence coming due to injury in the 1973 NFC Championship Game. During his 14-year career, the Cowboys reached six NFL/NFC title games between 1966 and 1973 and appeared in Super Bowls V and VI, with Lilly's dominant performance in Super Bowl VI, including a 29-yard sack of Miami quarterback Bob Griese, helping Dallas capture the franchise's first championship. He was selected to 11 Pro Bowls across his career. Lilly became the first player who spent his entire career with the Cowboys to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1980, and was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He remains widely remembered as one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history.
'Mr. Cowboy', first Dallas Cowboys player inducted into the Hall of Fame
How They Played
Quick, agile and powerful interior lineman excelling against both the run and pass
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history
Career Honours
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1980)
- Super Bowl VI champion
- 11x Pro Bowl
- 7x First-team All-Pro
American Athletes