Leon Lett

Infobox NFLretired


name=Leon Lett
|position=Defensive tackle
number=78
birthdate=Birth date and age|1968|10|12
flagicon|USA Mobile, Alabama
debutyear=1991
finalyear=2001
draftyear=1991
draftround=7
draftpick=173
college=Emporia State
teams=
*Dallas Cowboys (1991-2000)
*Denver Broncos (2001)
stat1label=Sacks
stat1value=22
stat2label=Games
stat2value=121
stat3label=FR
stat3value=7
nfl=LET648891
highlights=
* 3x Super Bowl champion
(XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (1994, 1998)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Leon Lett, Jr. (born October 12, 1968 in Mobile, Alabama), nicknamed The Big Cat, is a former star American football defensive tackle in the NFL 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 Bowler, with selections in 1994 and 1998. He wore jersey number 78 and was 6'6, 292 pounds during his playing days.

Famous play in Super Bowl XXVIII

Dallas won Super Bowl XXVIII for the "back to back" Super Bowl wins and the undisputed key play to win that Super Bowl, was made by Leon Lett. With the Cowboys trailing 13-6 in the third quarter, Lett, "sliced through the Buffalo line like a knife..." forcing a fumble while tackling running back Thurman Thomas in the backfield on the third play of the drive. Lett had stopped Buffalo's advance and turned the game's momentum back in favor of the Cowboys. Dallas safety James Washington recovered the ball and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, and the Cowboys won 30-13.

Infamous plays

Lett was a talented player and a cornerstone of the Cowboys defense during his tenure, but fans will likely remember him for his infamous plays. Two of the top three of ESPN'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.

uper 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 XXVII. Late in the fourth quarter, Lett made a play by recovering a fumble on Buffalo's 45 yard line and proceeded to run it back towards the endzone. When he reached the 10 yard line, he started to slow, and held the ball out as he approached the goal line. However, he didn't see a hustling Don Beebe, who was 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 certainly embarrassed Lett, and it is still well known by football fans 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), and may have cost Dallas the largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl.

1993 Thanksgiving Classic

1993 Thanksgiving Day blunder as it happened live.The second play (ranked #3 in both ESPN lists) occurred during the very next season and was actually more serious as it resulted in a Cowboy defeat. On Thanksgiving Day in 1993, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas, the Cowboys were leading the Miami Dolphins 14-13 with mere 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 but slipped on the ice as he attempted to pick the football up, and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one yard line. There was no need to pick up the ball as the Cowboys would have automatically received possession and could have simply 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. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game 16-14. In 2008, the game was named the third-most memorable in the history of Texas Stadium by ESPN [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=luksa_frank&page=hotread1/luksa] .

Later career

Lett played 6 more seasons for the Cowboys and one year with the Broncos before retiring. In his 11 NFL seasons, Lett recorded 22 sacks and recovered 7 fumbles.

External links

* [http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LETTLEO01 Lett's stats]