Landry, Tom (1924-2000), was one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Football League (NFL) . Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988. During that time, his teams won 13 division championships and played in 5 Super Bowls , winning Super Bowl VI in 1972 and Super Bowl XII in 1978.
Landry became known for his creative coaching on both offense and defense. He coached some of the greatest stars in NFL history, including quarterback Roger Staubach, defensive linemen Bob Lily and Randy White, and running back Tony Dorsett. Landry won 250 regular season games, ranking fourth in NFL history behind Don Shula , George Halas , and Bill Belichick .
Thomas Wade Landry was born on Sept. 11, 1924, in Mission, Texas. He attended the University of Texas for one semester in 1942, during World War II (1939-1945), before joining the United States Army Air Corps. During the war, he flew on 30 missions over Europe aboard a B-17 bomber. After receiving his discharge in 1945, he returned to the University of Texas, playing defensive back and fullback on the football team. Landry graduated from the university in 1949 with a degree in business.
Landry played professional football in 1949 with the New York Yankees of the All-America Conference. After that league ceased operation, he joined the New York Giants of the NFL in 1950, becoming a star defensive back and punter. Landry played through the 1955 season, and then served as defensive coach with the Giants until 1959. In 1960, he left that team to become the head coach of the newly formed Dallas Cowboys. Landry was the team’s only coach for 29 years. He was known for his stern demeanor on the sidelines and for wearing his iconic fedora hat.
Landry was dismissed as Cowboy head coach after the 1988 season following three consecutive losing seasons. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Landry died on Feb. 12, 2000.
