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

"Doomsday"

Hall of Famer Mel Renfro pictured in action during Super Bowl V

Defensive line:

Linebackers:

Defensive backs:

"Doomsday II"

Defensive line:

Linebackers:

Defensive backs:

References

  1. ^ "Too Tall, Too Mean, Too Much". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Fifty Things You Never Knew About The Dallas Cowboys". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "The NFL's 10 Greatest Defensive Teams of All Time". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "A Better Doomsday Looms for Dallas". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Cowboys Make Third Time Doomsday for Bills, 52-17". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "One Cowboy Wins: Howley Gets Award". Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Doomsday In The Dome". Retrieved September 7, 2022.

External links

Dallas Cowboys
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