John Niland, three-time All-Pro guard for Cowboys, has died

John Niland, a three-time All-Pro guard who played a key role in the Dallas Cowboys' first Super Bowl championship, has died at the age of 82. His daughter announced that he passed away Saturday morning in McKinney, Texas. Niland played with the Cowboys for nine seasons, starting 111 of 124 games, and was instrumental in protecting quarterback Roger Staubach during Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins. He made the Pro Bowl six consecutive years from 1968 to 1973, earning first-team All-Pro honors three times. Niland was later inducted into the Hawkeyes' Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and is survived by his wife, Shaughn, and daughters, Jordan and Haven.

• 1:08 AMESPN NFL — Former Cowboys All-Pro guard Niland dies at 82
• 1:01 AMYahoo Sports — Former Cowboys OG John Niland dies at 82
• 11:35 PMYahoo Sports — John Niland, who helped the Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl championship, has died