Don Meredith

Don Meredith was a National Football League (NFL) quarterback for nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring from professional football prior to the 1969 season. Recognized by the sports world as the "first true star of America's team," Meredith died on December 5, 2010 at the age of 72. According to his wife, Meredith suffered from a brain hemorrhage and slipped into a coma. She and her daughter were at his side when he passed away.http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dandy-Don-Meredith-Cowboys-hero-and-MNF-legend-?urn=nfl-292332

Nicknamed Dandy Don, Meredith transitioned into broadcasting after retiring from the NFL, joining the Monday Night Football team in the broadcast booth in 1970. It was there that he became a fan favorite, and developed a playful chemistry with Howard Cosell, who he joined inside the broadcast booth. It was during his reign on Monday Night Football that he established his trademark, which was the singing of Willie Nelson's "Turn Out the Lights" after a game was decided.http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dandy-Don-Meredith-Cowboys-hero-and-MNF-legend-?urn=nfl-292332

Don Meredith was the quarterback for the Southern Methodist University football team prior to going pro.http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MereDo00.htm He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1960 NFL Draft, 32nd overall, before being traded to the Cowboys for draft picks.http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dandy-Don-Meredith-Cowboys-hero-and-MNF-legend-?urn=nfl-292332 Although never reaching the Super Bowl, Meredith earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections, starting in 1966, the same year he won the NFL Bert Bell Award for Player of the Year.http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dandy-Don-Meredith-Cowboys-hero-and-MNF-legend-?urn=nfl-292332

Meredith provided color commentary on the ABC program Monday Night Football, and was part of the program's original three-man broadcasting team when it debuted in 1970. He spent three years on MNF before joining NBC for three years. Meredith return to Monday Night Football in 1977, where he remained until retiring from broadcasting in 1984.http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5890812