Duane Thomas, a running back who helped the Dallas Cowboys win a Super Bowl title in 1972, has passed away at the age of 77. Thomas' death was confirmed by the Cowboys to Pro Football Talk and the Dallas Morning News.
Former NFL running back Duane Thomas, who played a pivotal role in the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl V victory, has died at the age of 77. The Cowboys confirmed Thomas' passing to Pro Football Talk and the Dallas Morning News.
Thomas, a first-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 1970, made an immediate impact in his rookie season, rushing for 803 yards and five touchdowns. He played a key role in the team's run to the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Colts, although they ultimately fell short.
Duane Thomas, Super Bowl Champion Running Back, Dies at 77
Despite being considered the future of the Cowboys' running game, a contract dispute and verbal altercations with head coach Tom Landry led to his departure in 1971. Initially traded to the New England Patriots, then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle voided the deal, allowing Thomas to return to Dallas.
In his second stint with the Cowboys, Thomas vowed silence, a move that coincided with a remarkable season. He led the NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns and accumulated 793 rushing yards. Thomas' silence was broken before the team's Super Bowl VI victory over the Miami Dolphins, when he famously remarked, "If it's the ultimate [game], how come they're playing it again next year?"
Duane Thomas, Super Bowl Champion Running Back, Dies at 77
Thomas had a memorable performance in the Super Bowl, contributing 95 rushing yards and a touchdown to the Cowboys' 24-3 triumph. Despite the victory, his relationship with the team remained strained, and he was traded to the San Diego Chargers.
Thomas' career took a downward turn after leaving the Cowboys. He failed to report to training camp with the Chargers and was later traded to the Washington Redskins, where he played for two seasons, rushing for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 24 games.
Duane Thomas, Super Bowl Champion Running Back, Dies at 77
In 1976, Thomas had a brief return to the Cowboys, but he was waived before the season began. He attempted to revive his career in the Canadian Football League and with the Green Bay Packers, but he did not see regular-season action.
Despite the challenges he faced, Thomas remained appreciative of the game and what it represented to him. In a 2004 interview with the Houston Chronicle, he reflected on the significance of teamwork and perseverance: "What the game meant to me at that particular point was setting a goal and accomplishing it. The differences you may have had, the controversies, tend to be insignificant."
Thomas' passing marks the loss of a talented running back who left an enduring legacy in the NFL. His contributions to the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl victory will be long remembered by football fans.
