Duane Thomas, the running back on the Cowboys' first Super Bowl team, passed away this week at the age of 77.
Thomas, a first-round pick out of West Texas State, played just two seasons for the Cowboys - but helped the team make the Super Bowl in both seasons.
After Thomas rushed for 803 yards and led the NFL with a 5.4 yard average, the Cowboys advanced to Super Bowl V, only to lose to the Colts.
The next year, despite a contract dispute with the team that nearly jeopardized his season with the Cowboys, Thomas rushed for 793 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns, including the first-ever TD in Texas Stadium during the 1971 season. Thomas also scored in Super Bowl VI as the Cowboys finally shook the moniker of "Next Year's Champions" and won their first title by defeating the Dolphins, 24-3. He rushed for 95 yards against Miami, and was in the consideration for Super Bowl MVP, which eventually went to Roger Staubach.
But that proved to be Thomas' last game in Dallas. Continued differences with ownership led to him being out of football in 1972. Thomas finished his career in Washington, playing two more seasons.
Overall, Thomas rushed for 1,596 yards in two seasons with an average of 4.89 yards per carry. The Cowboys' record is 4.85 (DeMarco Murray, 2011-14), only because Thomas didn't qualify with enough attempts.
