The NFL world is in mourning this week after news was passed down of the death of a pioneer in the league that played for a legendary team.
Former NFL running back Don McIlhenny, who scored the first rushing touchdown in Dallas Cowboys history, has passed away.
He was 88-years-old.
McIlhenny led the Cowboys with 45 yards rushing and one touchdown in the team’s first-ever game, a 35-28 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He began his football career with the Detroit Lions in 1956. From 1957 to 1959 he played for the Green Bay Packers. The legendary running back then spent 1960 with the Cowboys before spending his final season in 1961 with both Dallas and the 49ers.
McIlhenny had 1,581 yards rushing, 655 yards receiving and 14 total touchdowns during his professional football career.
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Off the field, McIlhenny was married to his wife Jan for 62 years. They had four children together.
His son, Lance McIlhenny, played quarterback for SMU in the 1980s and he is the winningest quarterback in school history, owning a career record of 34-5-1.
