The résumé of one Thomas Wade Landry is nearly unparalleled in the annals of professional football. Still, there could be no greater disservice than recognizing his accomplishments rather than the man.

While his sideline demeanor was indeed stoic, the idea that he was robotic is a gross misinterpretation. Landry, who for the majority of his career called the offensive and defensive plays himself, once said, "The way I trained myself to concentrate, I blanked everything else out. You can't show emotion."

Landry could be funny, saying of the 0-11-1 inaugural 1960 season, "Our quarterback (Eddie LeBaron) used to raise his hand for a fair catch before taking the snap."

He could be emotional, breaking down when reading the last rookie cuts in 1975 and again when addressing his team for the final time on Feb. 27, 1989.

He could be engaging, often challenging his punters and kickers to contests after practice, and even flying with a former player who earned his pilot's license.

Said Don Meredith, "He's the finest man I have ever known. I loved him."

Landry's 20 playoff wins still rank third in NFL history while his 250 career regular-season victories are fifth behind just Don Shula, George Halas, Bill Belichick and Andy Reid. However, perhaps Landry's most impressive on-field coaching accomplishment was guiding the Cowboys to a still-standing NFL record 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966-85. He also won 13 divisional titles, five NFC crowns and two Super Bowls.

A fighter pilot who flew more than 30 missions in World War II, Landry was an All-Pro cornerback with the New York Giants in 1954 before eventually entering the coaching ranks. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and to the Ring of Honor in 1993.