It’s a sad day for the sports world and especially for the Dallas Cowboys organization. Don Meredith past away after suffering a brain hemorrhage today at his home in Santa, Fe N.M. He was 72.
Meredith began his pro football career in 1960. He was drafted that year by the Chicago Bears and later traded to Dallas Cowboys for future draft picks. He was the backup quarter back for three years before being given the starting job by Coach Tom Landry in 1963. He took the Cowboys to the NFL post season but never secured a spot in a Super Bowl. He retired unexpectedly in 1969.
He was known to fans as Dandy Don and remained popular with the Dallas fans long after he retired.
In 1970 he began his career as color commentator for ABC’s Monday Night Football. In 1974 he left to work with Curt Gowdy at NBC. He returned to MNF in 1977 where he worked with legendary co-hosts Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.
His career in the booth was not without its share of incidents. At one time he referred to President Nixon as “Tricky Dick”. Another time her turned a player’s name, Fair Hooker, into a double entendre, by saying “Fair Hooker, well I haven’t met one yet.”
I will remember him most for the Lipton Tea Commercials he did in the mid 1980’s.