Duane Thomas, Cowboys’ star running back, dead at 77

Officials with the Dallas Cowboys confirmed Tuesday that former running back, Duane Thomas, passed away on Sunday at the age of 77.

Thomas recorded the first touchdown ever scored at Texas Stadium on Oct. 24, 1971. His 56-yard run put the Cowboys up 7-0 early in the first quarter against the Patriots.

He capped his second year in the NFL by helping lead Dallas to its first Super Bowl victory later that same year. Thomas scored a touchdown and added 95 yards on just 19 carries against the Dolphins that day.

No official cause of death was released.

Early Promise

Born Duane Julius Thomas on June 21, 1947, in Dallas, Thomas starred at Lincoln High School. He then played at West Texas State–now West Texas A&M. His teammate there was Mercury Morris, who would lead the Dolphins to a 14-0 season and a Super Bowl win the following year as a rookie.

The Cowboys drafted Thomas with the 23rd overall pick in the first round. He was the fifth running back taken in the draft that year.

As a rookie, he split time as both a halfback and a fullback for Dallas.

In 14 games, he would earn eight starts in 1970. He finished the year with 803 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 151 carries.

In Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts, Thomas caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Craig Morton.

He was held to just 35 yards on 18 carries by the Baltimore defense and also had a fumble in the three-point loss.

The next season, Thomas had 793 yards and 11 touchdowns on 175 carries in just 11 games.

Without Duane Thomas, the Dallas Cowboys might not have made it to either Super Bowl, but there was trouble brewing despite the successes.

Mercurial Talent

Thomas’ relationship with the Cowboys was mercurial at best. As was his approach to the game, it seems.

Prior to the game, Thomas seemed unimpressed. When asked the reason for his low-key reaction to playing in a second-straight Super Bowl, the ultimate game in football, Thomas responded this way:

“If the Super Bowl is really the ultimate game, why do they play it again next year?”

Reportedly, Thomas was actually voted the MVP of Super Bowl VI, and it wasn’t even close.

But Thomas had boycotted the media that entire year. So when it came time to make the announcement, Roger Staubach’s name was announced instead.

The only people who know the accuracy of that report are long gone. However, it tracks with Thomas’ relationship with the media and the game at that time.

During the offseason, Thomas sought to restructure his contract. As it was the 1970s and not the 2020s, his request was not well received. It sparked a lot of bitterness. It also led to the Cowboys shipping Thomas off to the Patriots.

Thomas decided he didn’t want to play in New England and refused to report.

Then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle voided the trade and sent Thomas back to Dallas. He decided he wasn’t playing there either.

The Cowboys finally sent him packing to the Chargers on July 31, 1972. San Diego sent Mike Montgomery and Billy Parks to Dallas in return.

Apparently, Thomas didn’t care for the AFC at all, because he refused to show up in San Diego too. He was placed on the inactive list and sat out the entire 1972 season.

Back In The NFC

The Chargers would trade Thomas to the Redskins prior to the 1973 season.

He finished the 1973 season with just 95 yards on 32 carries. Thomas added 347 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games, three starts, the next year.

He looked for more money again and was cut prior to the 1975 season.

Thomas was briefly with the Hawaiians of the WFL in 1975. In 1976, he came back for a second stint in Dallas, only to be cut before the season.

He was with the B.C. Lions in the CFL for a few weeks in 1977.

Duane Thomas’ last gasp in the NFL came in 1979 in Green Bay. But once again, he was cut before the season started. He finished his NFL career with 2,038 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing in 49 games.