"Mr. Cowboy," Bob Lilly, is the best pro athlete to wear the jersey number 74. The first ever draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys, Lilly went on to a Hall of Fame career in fourteen season with the Cowboys. In 1961, Lilly started his career as a defensive end for Dallas. In his third season with the 'Boys, coach Tom Landry moved him over to defensive tackle, where he would go on to dominate the league. In fact, the Sporting News had named Lilly the "best defensive tackle in NFL history."
- 1980 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
- Named to eleven Pro Bowls
- Two-time participant in Super Bowl
- Five-time participant in NFL/NFC title games
- Only missed one game in fourteen seasons (all played with the Cowboys)
- Number 10 on Sporting News list of 100 greatest NFL players (1999)
- Played in 196 consecutive regular season games
Did you know......Bob Lilly is an avid photographer?
(photo courtesy of cowboycards.com)
NFL
outstanding choice.Next up would possible Jim Covert/'85 bears..?
ReplyDeletei think the next would be Merlin Olsen or Bruce Matthews. just my opinion
ReplyDeleteJim Covert is not in the top five. At least Henry Jordan is a hall of famer, but this one has to go to Merlin Olson.
ReplyDeleteI pick Merlin Olsen. But I would entertain a tie. Bruce Matthews is an awesome third choice.
ReplyDelete74 has 3 elite choices but;
Merlin Olsen
14× Pro Bowl (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
6× First-team All-Pro selection (1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970)
3× Second-team All-Pro selection (1965, 1973, 1974)
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
1974 Bert Bell Award (NFL MVP)
1968 Pro Bowl MVP
1962 NFL Rookie of the Year
1961 Outland Trophy
2× All-American (1960, 1961)
St. Louis Rams #74 Retired
Bryant McKinnie
ReplyDeleteMerlin Olson was great, but Lilly is generally considered the greatest D linman ever, let alone the best #74.
ReplyDelete