The Doomsday Defense was the defensive lineup of the Dallas Cowboys American football team during the dynasty years of the late 1960s - 1970s. This defense was the backbone of the Cowboys' dynasty, which won two Super Bowls (VI, XII) and played in three more (V, X and XIII).[1]
In 1964, sports writer Gary Cartwright of the Dallas Morning News coined the phrase "Doomsday Defense".[2] The Doomsday Defense is often recognized as having two different "generations," but different listings of players and time periods exist.[3] The original "Doomsday Defense" can generally be identified as the Cowboys' defenses from 1966 to 1974. "Doomsday II" had its heyday from approximately 1975 to 1982.[4] Many Cowboy fans recognize the defense from 1992 to 1996 as "Doomsday III", though to a lesser extent. This defense was in part, responsible for the Cowboys being the first team to ever win three Super Bowls in a four-year span.[5]
The first defensive player to be named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Super Bowl was linebacker Chuck Howley (V).[6] Later linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White became the first (and only) teammates (co-MVPs) to win the award (XII).[7]
Lineup[edit]
"Doomsday"[edit]
Defensive line:
- #71 - Willie Townes / #63 - Larry Cole
- #75 - Jethro Pugh
- #74 - Bob "Mr. Cowboy" Lilly (NFL 1960s All-Decade Team; NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor)
- #66 - George Andrie / # 67 - Pat Toomay
Linebackers:
- #54 - Chuck Howley (Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor)
- #55 - Lee Roy Jordan (Ring of Honor)
- #52 - Dave Edwards / #50 - D. D. Lewis
Defensive backs:
- #34 - Cornell Green
- #20 - Mel Renfro (Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor)
- #27 - Mike Gaechter / #41 - Charlie Waters
- #26 - Herb Adderley (Hall of Fame; NFL 1960s All-Decade Team) / #43 - Cliff Harris (Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor)
"Doomsday II"[edit]
Defensive line:
- #79 - Harvey Martin (NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; 1977 NFL Defensive Player of the Year)
- #63 - Larry Cole / #78 - John Dutton
- #54 - Randy "The Manster" White (NFL 1980s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor)
- #72 - Ed "Too Tall" Jones
Linebackers:
- #58 - Mike Hegman / #56 - Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson
- #53 - Bob Breunig
- #50 - D. D. Lewis
Defensive backs:
- #31 - Benny Barnes
- #43 - Cliff Harris (NFL 1970s All-Decade Team; Hall of Fame; Ring of Honor) / #26 - Michael Downs
- #41 - Charlie Waters / #42 - Randy Hughes
- #24 - Everson Walls / #25 - Aaron Kyle
References[edit]
- ^ "Too Tall, Too Mean, Too Much". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Fifty Things You Never Knew About The Dallas Cowboys". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "The NFL's 10 Greatest Defensive Teams of All Time". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "A Better Doomsday Looms for Dallas". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Cowboys Make Third Time Doomsday for Bills, 52-17". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "One Cowboy Wins: Howley Gets Award". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Doomsday In The Dome". Retrieved September 7, 2022.