Today, February 12, 2010 marks the 10 year anniversary of the death of Tom Landry, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tom Landry led the Cowboys for 29 season and he won 2 Super Bowl titles (VI, XII), 5 NFC titles, 13 Divisional titles, and compiled a 270-178-6 record, the 3rd most wins of all time for an NFL coach. His 20 career playoff victories are the most of any coach in NFL history. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in NFL history, creating many new formations and methods. He invented the now popular 4-3 defense, and the "flex defense" system. His most impressive professional accomplishment is his record for coaching the Cowboys to 20 consecutive winning seasons (1966–1985), an NFL record that remains unbroken and unchallenged. It remains one of the longest winning streaks in all of professional sports history.
Tom Landry once said "When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn." and "I don't believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a team prepared so it knows it will have the necessary confidence when it steps on a field and be prepared to play a good game." These are definitely two quotes that all coaches should live by. Always be willing to learn, to teach, and to be prepared. I guess that could apply to real life as well.
Tom Landry's departure came shortly after the Cowboys were sold to Jerry Jones before the 1989 season. When Landry met with his players two days later, to tell them how much he would miss them, he began to cry. The players responded with a standing ovation. Tom Landry's unceremonious dismissal by Jones was denounced by football fans and media as totally lacking in class and respect. In the years since, while most fans retain their support for the team, there persists significant levels of derision towards Jones over the perceived mistreatment of Landry.
Tom Landry was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and has a bronze statue outside of Cowboys Stadium. He died on February 12, 2000 of leukemia. The Cowboys wore a patch on their uniforms during the 2000 season depicting Landry's trademark fedora.
Tom Landry had several of his players also make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Rayfield Wright and Randy White. He was very influential as a person and coach and is still missed by the Dallas Cowboys faithful fans.
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