January 1, NFL Mourns Dallas Cowboys Legend Dead at 77

The Dallas Morning News has reported the unfortunate passing of former Dallas Cowboys running back Duane Thomas this past Sunday. He was 77.

The Cowboys organization confirmed the death of the NFL veteran. Details on the cause of his death have yet to be made public. During his four-season stint with the NFL, Thomas developed a reputation for being tight-lipped and was often embroiled in contract disputes. This extended not just to team officials, but also his fellow teammates and journalists. However, this icy demeanor was seemingly only a public persona, as those close to him insist he led a vibrant personal life.

His daughter, Zalika, painted a very different picture of the man off the field, describing him as an eloquent speaker and a dedicated loving father. She shared his enthusiasm for painting and his love of 1970s R&B and jazz music.

She said of her father, “My dad was a very loving dad, and he was very strategic. I’m a lot like my dad. Growing up he always said that about me. I totally got it as I started mentoring in life. He’s very strategic and analytical and very compassionate.”

Though his relationship with the Cowboys was tense, particularly in 1971 when he opted to remain silent for the entire season, refusing to speak to reporters or teammates, this failed to affect his performance on the field. Thomas made history as the first player to score a touchdown in Texas Stadium and led the NFL with eleven touchdowns that season. Despite his exceptional talent on the field, however, his strained relationship with the team led to his transfer to the San Diego Chargers and later short stops with the Washington Redskins and the Hawaiians of the World Football League.

The NFL world mourns Duane Thomas, a player who was as profound and unique off the field as he was skilled and effective on it.

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