John Niland (American football)

Games played:	138
Games started:	126

John Niland
No. 76, 74
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	February 29, 1944 (age 80); Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	Amityville (Amityville, New York)
College:	Iowa
NFL draft:	1966 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
AFL draft:	1966 / Round: 13 / Pick: 166
Career history
	Dallas Cowboys (1966–1974); Philadelphia Eagles (1975–1976);
Career highlights and awards
	Super Bowl champion (VI); 3× First-team All-Pro (1969, 1971, 1972); 6× Pro Bowl (1968–1973); First-team All-American (1965); Second-team All-American (1964); First-team All-Big Ten (1965); Second-team All-Big Ten (1964);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	138
Games started:	126
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

John Hugh Niland (born February 29, 1944) is an American former professional

offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes

.

In 2021, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Niland to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2021.^[1]

Early years

Niland was raised by his adopted family and attended

fullback

.

He accepted a football scholarship from the

offensive guard

as a junior.

Niland was an All-American selection his senior year in (1965) and also a second-team All-American selection in 1964 by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.^[2]

In 1989, he was named to the Iowa All-time Football Team. In 2006, he was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame.^[3]

Niland was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Football Category with the Class of 1997.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Niland was selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the

1966 AFL Draft

.

As a rookie, Niland started four games at

left tackle

.

Niland was the starter at

guard

.

Practicing against

offensive line that won two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl

. He was nicknamed Johnny Nightlife by his teammates, because of his thirst for the nightlife.

As a rookie, Niland started in the

right defensive tackle Lionel Aldridge of the Green Bay Packers

.

The Cowboys eventually won the

1971-72 NFL playoffs and then the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. In the latter game, Niland and Liscio overwhelmed Bob Heinz and Bill Stanfill, respectively, leading Duane Thomas

and others to a whopping 252 yards on the ground.

Along with

offensive lineman in team history with at least six Pro Bowl selections. He was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1968 to 1973 and was a three-time All-Pro selection, while only missing two games in his nine seasons with the Cowboys.^[4]

On September 14, 1975, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third round draft choice (#62-Tony Hill).^[5]

Philadelphia Eagles

In

left guard after missing the season opener with a hamstring injury. The next year, he tore ligaments in his left knee during a training camp practice and was placed on the injured reserve list.^[6]^[7]

Personal life

Niland served military duty at

Fort Hood

.

References

^ Ken Crippen. "PFRA's Hall of Very Good Class of 2021". Retrieved November 21, 2021.
^ "NILAND IS HONORARY CAPTAIN". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^ "HALL OF FAME WEEKEND APPROACHING". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^ "The 53: Niland One of Club's First Great OL". Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
^ "Nilan Traded". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^ "Eagle'S Nilan Has Surgery". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
^ "Redskins get Scott; Matuszack; Raiders put Blanda on waivers". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

External links

John Niland's Official Website (archive)

[1] Ken Crippen. "PFRA's Hall of Very Good Class of 2021". Retrieved November 21, 2021.

[2] "NILAND IS HONORARY CAPTAIN". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

[3] "HALL OF FAME WEEKEND APPROACHING". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

[4] "The 53: Niland One of Club's First Great OL". Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.

[5] "Nilan Traded". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

[6] "Eagle'S Nilan Has Surgery". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

[7] "Redskins get Scott; Matuszack; Raiders put Blanda on waivers". Retrieved March 16, 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

v t e Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl VI champions
10 Ron Widby 12 Roger Staubach (MVP) 14 Craig Morton 15 Toni Fritsch 19 Lance Alworth 20 Mel Renfro 22 Bob Hayes 23 Margene Adkins 26 Herb Adderley 30 Dan Reeves 31 Gloster Richardson 32 Walt Garrison 33 Duane Thomas 34 Cornell Green 35 Calvin Hill 36 Joe Williams 37 Isaac Thomas 41 Charlie Waters 42 Claxton Welch 43 Cliff Harris 46 Mark Washington 50 D. D. Lewis 51 Dave Manders 52 Dave Edwards 54 Chuck Howley 55 Lee Roy Jordan 56 Tom Stincic 60 Lee Roy Caffey 61 Blaine Nye 62 John Fitzgerald 63 Larry Cole 64 Tony Liscio 66 George Andrie 67 Pat Toomay 70 Rayfield Wright 71 Rodney Wallace 72 Don Talbert 73 Ralph Neely 74 Bob Lilly 75 Jethro Pugh 76 John Niland 77 Bill Gregory 79 Forrest Gregg 83 Mike Clark 85 Tody Smith 87 Billy Truax 89 Mike Ditka
Head coach: Tom Landry
Coaches: Ermal Allen Bobby Franklin Jim Myers Dan Reeves Ray Renfro Ernie Stautner Jerry Tubbs