Don McIlhenny, Member of Original Dallas Cowboys Team, Dies at 88

Don McIlhenny, an original Dallas Cowboy and an NFL veteran, has died. The former running back was 88.

His family confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that McIlhenny died Tuesday. He’ll always be known as the first Cowboy ever to score a rushing touchdown. That was back in 1960, when America’s Team then was a fledgling NFL franchise.

But there was greatness in that first team. Future Hall of Famer Tom Landry, a native Texan, was the head coach. And future Hall of Famer Tex Schramm was the first general manager. Gil Brandt, who became a draft innovator, was the team’s first director of player personnel.

Here’s a trivia question for you. Who was Dallas’ first opponent? The Pittsburgh Steelers, who became an arch rival in the 1970s, opened the 1960 season against the Cowboys. And Don McIlhenny, a halfback, scored a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give his team a 21-7 lead. But that margin didn’t hold. The Cowboys lost 35-28 as future Hall of Famer Bobby Layne, a Texan playing for the Steelers, led the comeback.