“RIP”: Prayers Pour In as Alabama Football & Cowboys Mourn Death of Legendary Figure

No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide faced No.4 Oklahoma in a jam-packed (72,000 spectators) Miami’s Orange Bowl in 1963. But in the stands was also the former US President J.F. Kennedy, sitting, watching the game, making it a national spectacle. It was on that very field that Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama’s legendary linebacker, announced himself to the world as he ran riot in Miami. Decades later, that legacy remains vivid, as the news of Jordan’s passing reminds us of the life and impact of one of college football’s greats.

Jordan, in that Orange Bowl game, recorded 31 tackles, a record that still goes strong at Bama. Despite that performance, the legend always remained humble and even refused to take credit after beating Oklahoma. “I probably got credit for more tackles than I made, but I didn’t turn them down when the game was over,” said Lee Roy Jordan. Now, at 84 years of age, the football world mourns his passing. The Dallas Cowboys honored his remarkable legacy and paid a special tribute to him.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we share the passing of Lee Roy Jordan. An inspirational leader of the Cowboys’ first championship teams, Jordan was at the core of the Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense,” anchoring the middle linebacker spot for 14 years…His legacy lives on as a model of dedication, integrity, and toughness. Lee Roy Jordan’s impact on the game, and on those who knew him, will live on forever,” wrote the Cowboys’ official X account. Apart from his contribution to Alabama, Jordan was also pivotal in making the Cowboys the “America’s Team.”

Apart from being the pivotal man on the Cowboys’ “Doomsday defense,” Jordan took the team to their Super Bowl VI win and earned 5 Pro Bowl selections, earning the Cowboys’ ring of honor. But his legacy goes beyond his contributions on the field. And having been born in Excel, Alabama, Jordan was the favorite of the legendary head coach, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, making his legacy even more pronounced for the Bama fans. And the tributes are pouring in his remembrance !!

Tributes are overflowing for Lee Roy Jordan

As the 1962 Bama team’s captain, Jordan set a standard for discipline and intensity, earning praise from coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who said, “Lee Roy never had a bad day, he was 100 percent every day in practice and in the games”. Even the legend’s leadership fostered a culture of excellence during Alabama’s resurgence in the early 1960s, which helped lay the foundation for Bryant’s dynasty. Moreover, his contribution to philanthropy set the Bama legend apart from others.

Before his passing, Jordan was the oldest living All-American for Alabama, having won the 1961 national title and then becoming a unanimous All-American in 1962. But that’s just a facet of his legacy, because for Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, he was the best the head coach had ever seen. “One of the finest football players the world has ever seen. If runners stayed between the sidelines, he tackled them,” said the legendary head coach about Jordan. No doubt, the tributes are emotional for him from the Bama fans.

“One of the greats, who played when football was a game, not a financial competition. RIP, Lee Roy. You were awesome,” wrote a user replying to the Cowboys’ X post. While another user remembered how he used to see him in his youth. “That’s a name from my youth. I can still hear Pat Summarall announcing his name on another sack. RIP.” Even off the field, Jordan was a true legend.

“Praying for everyone and their family. I grew up watching him, and he is a champion who will be missed,” wrote one user remembering the legend. While another user connected the legend to his first-ever memory. “Lee Roy Jordan was the first Dallas jersey I ever wore. RIP.” A deep man of faith, Jordan’s autobiography emphasized how his family’s Christian values guided his life and decisions that also resonated with Alabama’s fanbase, sealing his legacy for the team beyond football.

All in all, with the passing of Jordan, the world has lost an ace of a player, whose legacy will live on in decades to come both at Alabama and at the Cowboys. It’s like one of the users put it, “One of my all-time favorites.” Truly, the legend has lived a celebrated career along with an influence that has people like Tim Brando remembering him. Football might have lost a hero today, but the impact lives on.