Duane Thomas: The Cowboys' Enigmatic Super Bowl Running Back

Duane Thomas was one of the most gifted running backs of his era and one of the most mysterious figures in NFL history. In just two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, he helped the team reach two Super Bowls and win its first championship in Super Bowl VI. He was also famous for refusing to speak to reporters, clashing with management over his contract and leaving the game far earlier than his talent suggested. Thomas died on August 4, 2024, in Sedona, Arizona, at age 77.

Quick facts

Full name	Duane Thomas
Born	June 21, 1947, Dallas, Texas
Died	August 4, 2024, Sedona, Arizona
College	West Texas State
Drafted	1970, first round, Dallas Cowboys
NFL teams	Dallas Cowboys (1970–71), Washington Redskins (1973–74)
Career rushing	2,038 yards and 21 touchdowns
Championship	Super Bowl VI (1971 season)

Early life and college

Thomas grew up in Dallas and played college football at West Texas State (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, Texas. The school had a strong record of producing NFL running backs, and Thomas's combination of size, speed and smooth running style made him a first-round prospect. The Cowboys, then building one of the best teams in football under coach Tom Landry, selected him in the first round of the 1970 draft, close to home.

A brilliant rookie season

Thomas made an immediate impact in 1970. He became the Cowboys' leading rusher as a rookie, running with a patient, gliding style that made defenders miss. He helped Dallas reach Super Bowl V, where the Cowboys lost a sloppy, turnover-filled game to the Baltimore Colts 16–13 on a field goal in the final seconds. A fumble by Thomas near the Colts' goal line was one of the key plays of the game.

The silent season of 1971

After his rookie year, Thomas wanted a new contract and felt the Cowboys were not paying him fairly. When the team refused to renegotiate, he criticized management publicly, was briefly traded to New England and then returned to Dallas after the deal fell apart. During the 1971 season, Thomas largely stopped talking: to reporters, to coaches and even to many teammates. He played brilliantly anyway, scoring touchdowns at one of the best rates in the league.

His silence became one of the biggest stories in football. Some saw him as difficult and disrespectful; others saw a young Black athlete pushing back against a team and a league that offered players little power or pay. Decades later, many writers view his protest as an early example of athletes demanding fair treatment.

Super Bowl VI: the championship

On January 16, 1972, in New Orleans, the Cowboys beat the Miami Dolphins 24–3 in Super Bowl VI for the franchise's first NFL championship. Thomas rushed for 95 yards and scored a touchdown, leading a Dallas ground attack that controlled the game. Quarterback Roger Staubach was named the game's MVP, but many observers felt Thomas had a strong case.

During Super Bowl week, Thomas famously questioned why the game was called the "ultimate game" if it would be played again the next year. The comment summed up his skeptical view of football's hype.

Leaving Dallas and the end of his career

After the Super Bowl, the Cowboys traded Thomas to the San Diego Chargers, but he did not play a regular-season game for them. He later played two seasons with Washington in 1973 and 1974, mostly in a reduced role, and then attempted comebacks that did not lead to a lasting return. His NFL career ended with 2,038 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns, numbers that look small given his talent.

Career statistics

Team	Seasons	Rushing yards	Rushing TDs
Dallas Cowboys	1970–71	1,596	16
Washington	1973–74	442	5
Total	4 seasons	2,038	21

Life after football

Thomas later spoke openly about his career, his relationship with the Cowboys and his beliefs, including in an autobiography. He became more reflective about his time in Dallas and was welcomed back by many Cowboys fans and former teammates, who remembered him as a key part of the team's first title. In his later years he lived in Arizona, where he died in 2024.

Legacy

• Talent – teammates and opponents described him as one of the most naturally gifted backs they had seen.
• Championship – he was central to the Cowboys' first Super Bowl win, starting a tradition that made Dallas "America's Team."
• Athlete independence – his contract fight and silence foreshadowed later battles over player pay and rights.
• A "what if" story – his short career remains one of the NFL's great unanswered questions.

For more great moments in football history, see on this day in sports history and the most famous sporting events.