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D.D. Lewis, anchored Cowboys’ ‘Doomsday Defense’, dead at 79

Originally posted on Inside The Star
By Richard Paolinelli | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 1:05 PM ET

After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1968 NFL draft, D.D. Lewis’ career didn’t exactly get off to a hot start.

He suited up in all 14 games as a rookie but ended up serving in the military and missed the entire 1969 season.

He was back on the sideline in 1970 but only started in two of the next 38 games he played in. But in 1973, he became a starting linebacker for Dallas and went on to be an anchor in Tom Landry’s vaunted ‘Doomsday Defense’.

Lewis passed away earlier this week, his death confirmed by the Cowboys on Wednesday.

College Football Standout

Paul “Bear” Bryant, the head coach for Alabama in the SEC, considered Lewis to be the best linebacker in the country. Lewis played for conference rival Mississippi State.

He was twice named First Team All-SEC. In his senior year in 1967 was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Because of his size, he fell all the way to sixth round in the 1968 draft where the Cowboys happily took him.

Regular Season Numbers

In his 13 years on the roster, Lewis started in 134 of the 186 games he suited up for.

After becoming a starter to begin the 1973 season, following Chuck Howley’s retirement, Lewis started in 132 of the 134 games Dallas played until his retirement.

Lewis benefited at the weak linebacker from having two Cowboys’ legends at middle linebacker during his career. He played alongside Lee Roy Jordan, who passed away last month, and then Bob Bruenig.

Lewis had eight interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries to go along with 15.5 sacks.

Tackles were not an officially kept stat for most of his career. There is no sure way to know how many he finished with.

Post-Season Success

Lewis was on the field as a back-up when the Cowboys lost Super Bowl V to the Colts in 1970 and again when Dallas trounced Miami 24-3 in Super Bowl VI the following year.

He was a starter for both Super Bowl Losses to Pittsburgh (X and XIII) and won his second ring in Super Bowl XII against Denver.

Lewis started in 20 of the 27 playoff games he suited up for in Dallas. He is credited with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and four interceptions in postseason play.

Two of his interceptions came in the 37-7 rout of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1975 NFC Championship game.

He followed up that performance with a four-tackle game against the Steelers in the four-point Super Bowl X loss two weeks later.

His final game in a Cowboys uniform came on January 10, 1982. The heartbreaking 28-27 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco in the 1981 NFC Championship game.

This article first appeared on Inside The Star and was syndicated with permission.

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