John Niland's qualifications to be inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in Canton are more than his individual achievements as excellently posted by David Chapman. Niland anchored one of the most dominating offensive lines in the history of pro football during his career with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1966, the Dallas Cowboy team ran for 2122 yards, second most in the NFL. in 1967, the Cowboy team ran for 1907 yards, 4th most in the NFL. In 1968, the Cowboys ran for 2091 yards, second most in the NFL. In 1969, the Cowboy rushing attack was ranked number one with 2276 yards. In 1970, the Cowboy rushing attack was again ranked number one with 2300 yards; in 1971, the Cowboys were ranked number three in the NFL with 2249 yards. In 1972, the Cowboy rushing attack dipped to number eight with 2124 yards but rebounded to the number four rank in 1973 with 2418 yards. In 1974, Niland's final season with the Cowboys, the Cowboy rushing attack returned to number one with 2454 yards.. In summary, while the Green Bay Packer running attack of the 1960's receives most of the press and the 1970's Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders are most popularly known for their rushing attacks, the reality is that the Dallas Cowboy consistently were in the top five and often number one for all of Ralph Neely's career. Finally, the 1960's Green Bay Packers have three offensive lineman in the Hall of Fame: Jim Ringo; Forrest Gregg and Jerry Kramer. The 1970's Oakland Raiders have four offensive lineman in Canton: Bob Brown; Gene Upshaw; Art Shell and Jim Otto. The 1970's Miami Dolphins have two hall of famers: Larry Little and Jim Langer - though Bob Kuechenberg is also deserving a gold jacket, also, and was a finalist in 2022 for nomination into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a senior candidate. The 1960's Dallas Cowboys have exactly ONE gold jacket member from their dominating offensive lines of the 1960's and 1970's - Rayfield Wright. Objectively, John Niland was an integral part of one of the great offensive lines in NFL history, on par or superior to many famous offensive lines which received the media accolades; a three time All Pro and six time pro bowler. Finally, pro football reference in its Hall of Fame monitor ranks John Niland as the 24th greatest guard in NFL history. Sixteen of the guards rated above Niland already wear gold jackets - and the remaining seven should certainly be considered for gold jackets when they become eligible. John Niland MUST be and SHOULD be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Posted by Cosme D. Ripol on 10/28/2022 @ 14:00pm

John Niland was considered one of the top 3 guards in his era in the 1960's and 1970,s.

JOHN NILAND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Drafted 1st Round 5th overall in 1966 – first offensive lineman in franchise history to be drafted. (LEFT GAURD)

HEIGHT 6'3 – WEIGHT 245


COLLEGE - ACCOMPLISHMENTS


ALL BIG 10 – 1964
ALL AMERICAN – 1964

ALL BIG 10 – 1965
ALL AMERICAN – 1965

1989 NAMED TO IOWA ALL-TIME FOOTBALL TEAM

1997 INDUCTED INTO THE SUFFOLK SPORTS HALL OF FAME ON LONG ISLAND

2006 INDUCTED INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME


NFL - ACCOMPLISHMENTS


DALLAS COWBOYS – 1966–1974
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – 1975–1976

PLAYOFF APPEARENCES ALL 10 YEARS WITH THE COWBOYS

15 PLAYOFF GAMES TOTAL

CONSIDERED THE TOP 3 OFFENSIVE PULLING GUARDS IN HIS ERA 1960'S AND 70'S IN THE NFL

6X PRO BOWL – 1968- 1973
3X ALL PRO – 1969 – 1971 – 1972
TWICE AS MANY PRO BOWLS THAN GREEN BAY PACKERS JERRY KRAMER WHO WAS RECENTLY INDUCTED IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

APPEARED IN 2 SUPER BOWLS

SUPER BOWL – V – 1971
LOSS TO THE BALTIMORE COLTS

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION – VI – 1972
WON AGAINST THE MIAMI DOLPHINS

5 FUMBLES RECOVERED

1 TOUCHDOWN FUMBLE RECOVERED

NUMBER 30 OF THE TOP 50 GREATEST DALLAS COWBOYS – ACCORDING TO ESPN

2012 TOM LANDRY LEGEND AWARD WINNER

2017 INDUCTED INTO THE GRIDIRON GREATS HALL OF FAME

GREATEST #76 PLAYER IN DALLAS COWBOYS HISTORY

JOHN NILAND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP PULLING GUARDS TO EVER PLAY IN THE NFL

JOHN ONLY MISSED 3 GAMES TOTAL IN HIS 11 YEAR NFL CAREER

JOHNS NILAND BODY HAS PAID THE PRICE FOR PLAYING IN THE NFL.

2 RESONSTRUCTED KNEES AND SHOULDERS

Posted by David Chapman on 09/22/2021 @ 13:44pm