Former Dallas Cowboys defensive star Don Smelek passed away last week after a battle with cancer. He was 66 years old.
Smelek played college football at the University of Nevada. After going undrafted, Smelek ultimately signed with the Cowboys in 1981. The defensive lineman spent the next seven seasons with the Cowboys, appearing in 69 games.
He finished his Dallas career with 14.5 sacks.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Don Smelek #60 watches from the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 8, 1985 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Cowboys 50-24. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)
“He was a great teammate and a great human being,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Cowboys standout Randy White. “He’s been really solid as a football player and I can always trust him. He’ll come in on third down and rush the passer and as far as Don as a football player, he was 100 percent. ”
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White also recalled often going fishing with Smelek.
“He was a great teammate playing soccer and we became very good friends off the field. He used to be my fishing partner and we used to go fishing and everything that goes with that.”
A Dallas Cowboys helmet and game ball before the NFL Wild Card Playoff football game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys on January 14, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Detail view. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Smelek is a Nevada native who moved to Texas after retiring from the NFL. Smelek’s sister Debbie Nye spoke of her brother’s “engaging personality.”
“His teammates are lifelong friends going back to high school, college and the NFL,” Nye said, via the Dallas Morning News. “Those guys are still there, and they were pretty much on his side. He was a larger-than-life person, and he was a very fascinating person.”
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The family plans to honor Smelek’s life at a private memorial service scheduled for later this month in Henderson, Nevada. Smerek is survived by his wife Tandy, three brothers, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.
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