John Niland, a three-time All-Pro guard who helped the Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl, has died at 82. Niland’s family plans to donate his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center to help further research into the football-linked disease, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Football Career and Legacy

Niland made 111 starts in 124 games over nine seasons with Dallas. He played for Philadelphia for one year before retiring after the 1975 season. Niland made the Pro Bowl for six straight years from 1968 to 1973. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1969, 1971, and 1972. He helped protect Roger Staubach when Dallas beat the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in the Super Bowl on Jan. 16, 1972, according to the New York Post.

Niland, a Massachusetts native, starred at Iowa before he was taken by the Cowboys with the fifth overall selection in the 1966 draft. He was inducted into the Hawkeyes’ Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. Niland spent nine years in Dallas, making 111 starts in 124 games played for the Cowboys, as noted by PFSN.

Health Struggles and Family

Niland’s daughter, Haven, said he died Saturday morning in McKinney, a Dallas suburb. She told the Dallas Morning News, “He was the best dad. He was so wonderful. I mean, he was really bigger than life. He taught me so many amazing things. I was talking to my sister [Saturday]. He taught me nothing is that serious. The things that really matter are family and your faith and just being kind to other people. I think that’s really exemplified.”

Haven also revealed that Niland had several operations, contracted a staph infection in his spine, and had mouth cancer. She added that her family believed he suffered from CTE. “I can’t remember a time when it didn’t impact our life,” Haven said. “It was a continuous discussion of dad’s got doctor’s appointments. He had a double knee replacement, and then later a double shoulder replacement, which led to staph in his spine. So his body was beat up and bruised and he broke his nose six times.”

Reactions and Tributes

Niland’s death has left the NFL world heartbroken. Alex, a Los Angeles Rams fan, paid homage to the former Cowboys guard, writing on X: “He was a good one. RIP John Niland.” Cowboys fan Dale Smith reminisced on Niland’s unique playing style, saying, “I can still see Niland leading the charge on that outside run.” Another fan remembered meeting Niland long after his career was over: “Damn. I met him in 2014, great guy.”

A long-time Cowboys fan expressed sadness over the franchise icon’s death, writing: “Oh no… I’m so sorry to read this. All our heroes are passing on…” Ken Reynolds praised Niland’s reliability at guard for the Cowboys: “Old reliable at guard, solid as a rock who rarely missed a snap.” Scott Knudsen posted: “RIP Big John. Cowboys mainstay.”

Niland’s legacy is also linked to a real-life story that inspired the 1998 film “Saving Private Ryan.” The story of the Niland brothers—Edward, Frederick, Preston, and Robert—served as the historical basis for the film, according to kino.de. The brothers served in different units of the U.S. military during World War II. The film’s plot, which involved Captain John H. Miller being tasked with finding and bringing back a soldier whose three brothers had died in the war, was based on the Niland family’s experience.