Leon Lett
Encyclopedia
Leon Lett, Jr. nicknamed The Big Cat, is a former American football
defensive tackle in the National Football League
who played for the Dallas Cowboys
(1991
–2000
) and the Denver Broncos
(2001
), after playing college football
at Emporia State University
. Lett was a two-time Pro Bowl
er, with selections in 1994
and 1998
. He is also remembered for his involvement in two infamous plays during his tenure with the Cowboys.
and played two seasons at Hinds Community College
in Raymond, Mississippi
, before starring in 1989 and 1990 at Emporia State University
in Kansas. He earned All-NAIA District 10 recognition as a senior, but pro scouts lost interest when he missed his last three games with a leg injury. Scouts later decided to take a chance on Lett after hearing from the Emporia State head trainer that the injury was blown out of proportion.
in the 7th round of the 1991 NFL Draft
as a defensive tackle. He spent much of his rookie season on injured reserve
with a lower back problem. After entering the league at 6'6" and 260 pounds, by the end of his rookie year, he had put on 16 more pounds, eventually playing at 300.
In his second season, he quickly blossomed into a key player in the Cowboys defensive line rotation. His teammates nicknamed him "Big Cat" in deference to his agility.
In 1993, Lett fractured his right ankle in the third game of the season. He was forced to miss five games. In 1994, he was named to the first of his two Pro Bowl
s. From 1995 to 2000, Lett was suspended three times by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy, missing a total of 28 games. He served a four-game suspension in the middle of the 1995 season, a full 16-game suspension (3 games in 1996 and 13 games of 1997) and an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2000 season. In 1998, he had 51 tackles, four sacks, 20 quarterback pressures and a team-high seven tackles for losses (98). He was also named to his second Pro Bowl
the same year. In 2000, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice that forced him to miss the final seven games.
's "25 Biggest Sports Blunders" are attributed to Lett. The fans ranked him #1 and #3, whereas an expert panel placed him at #2 and #3.
. Late in the fourth quarter, Lett recovered a fumble on Buffalo's 45-yard line and ran it back towards the end zone. When he reached the 10-yard line, Lett slowed and held the ball out as he approached the goal line. However, Lett did not see Bills player Don Beebe
chasing him down from behind. Beebe knocked the ball out of Lett's outstretched hand just before he crossed the goal line, which sent the ball through the endzone, and resulted in a touchback
that cost Lett his touchdown. Lett later said he was watching the Jumbotron
, and trying to do a "Michael Irvin
", where he put the ball out across the goal line.
The Cowboys had a commanding 52–17 lead at the time, and the play did not affect the outcome of the game, but it embarrassed Lett and is still well known today. Lett's gaffe also cost the Cowboys the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl (55, by the San Francisco 49ers
in Super Bowl XXIV
).
, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas
, the Cowboys, who came into the game with a 7-3 record, were leading the 8-2 Miami Dolphins
14–13 with 15 seconds remaining in the game. The Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal
to take the lead but the kick was blocked. While most of his teammates began celebrating, Lett attempted to recover the ball. He slipped on the ice as he tried to pick up the football, and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one-yard line. Had Lett simply done nothing, the Cowboys would have automatically received possession and could have run out the clock. By touching the ball and then failing to hold onto it, Lett enabled the Dolphins to take possession and then try another field goal with three seconds left on the clock. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game 16–14 as the clock expired.
The play did not hurt the Cowboys' season as they won all of their remaining regular-season games and went on to win the Super Bowl. The Dolphins took over sole possession of the lead in the AFC East with the win, but did not win another game for the rest of the year, dropping their last five games and finishing out of the playoffs. In 2008, the game was named the third-most memorable in the history of Texas Stadium
by ESPN
.
with a degree in university studies and a concentration in sociology and history. On December 19, 2009, he was appointed defensive tackle coach for the University of Louisiana at Monroe
Warhawks.
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett was hired on July 20, 2011 by the Dallas Cowboys as part of the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program to assist defensive line coach Brian Baker during training camp.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who played for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
(1991
1991 NFL season
The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills....
–2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
) and the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
), after playing college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
. Lett was a two-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er, with selections in 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
and 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
. He is also remembered for his involvement in two infamous plays during his tenure with the Cowboys.
Early life
Lett graduated from Fairhope High SchoolFairhope High School
Fairhope High School is a public secondary school located in Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope High School is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system. They service grades 9-12.-History:...
and played two seasons at Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College is a community college with its main campus located in Raymond, Mississippi, about five miles west of Jackson, the state capital. The Hinds Community College District includes Hinds County, Claiborne County, part of Copiah County, Rankin County, and Warren County...
in Raymond, Mississippi
Raymond, Mississippi
Raymond is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,664. Raymond is one of the two county seats of Hinds County and is the home of the main campus of Hinds Community College....
, before starring in 1989 and 1990 at Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
in Kansas. He earned All-NAIA District 10 recognition as a senior, but pro scouts lost interest when he missed his last three games with a leg injury. Scouts later decided to take a chance on Lett after hearing from the Emporia State head trainer that the injury was blown out of proportion.
Professional career
Lett was drafted by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 7th round of the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
as a defensive tackle. He spent much of his rookie season on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
with a lower back problem. After entering the league at 6'6" and 260 pounds, by the end of his rookie year, he had put on 16 more pounds, eventually playing at 300.
In his second season, he quickly blossomed into a key player in the Cowboys defensive line rotation. His teammates nicknamed him "Big Cat" in deference to his agility.
In 1993, Lett fractured his right ankle in the third game of the season. He was forced to miss five games. In 1994, he was named to the first of his two Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s. From 1995 to 2000, Lett was suspended three times by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy, missing a total of 28 games. He served a four-game suspension in the middle of the 1995 season, a full 16-game suspension (3 games in 1996 and 13 games of 1997) and an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2000 season. In 1998, he had 51 tackles, four sacks, 20 quarterback pressures and a team-high seven tackles for losses (98). He was also named to his second Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
the same year. In 2000, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice that forced him to miss the final seven games.
Infamous plays
Lett was a talented player and a cornerstone of the Cowboys defense during his tenure, but he is also remembered for being involved in two infamous plays. Two of the top three of ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's "25 Biggest Sports Blunders" are attributed to Lett. The fans ranked him #1 and #3, whereas an expert panel placed him at #2 and #3.
Super Bowl XXVII
The first play (ranked #1 in the ESPN fan list, #2 in the ESPN expert panel) occurred in January 1993, in Super Bowl XXVIISuper Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
. Late in the fourth quarter, Lett recovered a fumble on Buffalo's 45-yard line and ran it back towards the end zone. When he reached the 10-yard line, Lett slowed and held the ball out as he approached the goal line. However, Lett did not see Bills player Don Beebe
Don Beebe
Don Lee Beebe is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Buffalo Bills , Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers of the NFL....
chasing him down from behind. Beebe knocked the ball out of Lett's outstretched hand just before he crossed the goal line, which sent the ball through the endzone, and resulted in a touchback
Touchback
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead behind or above a goal line and the team who is attacking that goal line is responsible for the ball being there. Responsibility is determined by which team gave the ball the impetus...
that cost Lett his touchdown. Lett later said he was watching the Jumbotron
Jumbotron
A JumboTron is a large-screen television using technology developed by Sony, typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close-up shots of the event. Although JumboTron is a registered trademark owned by the Sony Corporation, the word jumbotron is often used by the public as a...
, and trying to do a "Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin
Michael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
", where he put the ball out across the goal line.
The Cowboys had a commanding 52–17 lead at the time, and the play did not affect the outcome of the game, but it embarrassed Lett and is still well known today. Lett's gaffe also cost the Cowboys the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl (55, by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
).
1993 Thanksgiving Classic
The second play (ranked #3 in both ESPN lists) occurred during the very next season and was more serious as it resulted in a Cowboy defeat. On Thanksgiving Day in 19931993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
, the Cowboys, who came into the game with a 7-3 record, were leading the 8-2 Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
14–13 with 15 seconds remaining in the game. The Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
to take the lead but the kick was blocked. While most of his teammates began celebrating, Lett attempted to recover the ball. He slipped on the ice as he tried to pick up the football, and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one-yard line. Had Lett simply done nothing, the Cowboys would have automatically received possession and could have run out the clock. By touching the ball and then failing to hold onto it, Lett enabled the Dolphins to take possession and then try another field goal with three seconds left on the clock. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game 16–14 as the clock expired.
The play did not hurt the Cowboys' season as they won all of their remaining regular-season games and went on to win the Super Bowl. The Dolphins took over sole possession of the lead in the AFC East with the win, but did not win another game for the rest of the year, dropping their last five games and finishing out of the playoffs. In 2008, the game was named the third-most memorable in the history of Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Post-retirement
On May 9, 2009, Lett graduated from the University of Nevada, Las VegasUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
with a degree in university studies and a concentration in sociology and history. On December 19, 2009, he was appointed defensive tackle coach for the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
Warhawks.
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett was hired on July 20, 2011 by the Dallas Cowboys as part of the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program to assist defensive line coach Brian Baker during training camp.