Tom Landry’s Fedora
The MMQB presents NFL 95, a special project—unveiled every Wednesday from May through July—detailing 95 artifacts that tell the story of the NFL, as the league prepares to enter its 95th season. See the entire series here.
Tom Landry always wore his Sunday best on the sidelines: suit, tie and his famous fedora. It was fitting for a man who always expected the Sunday best from his team.
The native of Mission, Texas, coached the Cowboys for 29 seasons. Under Landry's watch, Dallas had a winning record in 20 straight years, from 1966 to 1985—a feat no other club has matched—and made five trips to the Super Bowl, winning twice. Landry won because he innovated, developing the “flex” variant of the 4-3 defense and popularizing the shotgun formation, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with contemporaries like Vince Lombardi and Don Shula. In fact, Shula, one of only two NFL coaches with more career wins than Landry’s 250 (George Halas is the other), considers Landry’s Cowboys to be the toughest foe he faced.
Landry played pro football in New York (with the Yankees and Giants), and began his coaching career there, too, as the Giants’ defensive coordinator in the late 1950s. But he returned to his home state in 1960 to make a star of the Cowboys. A Stetson would have been the obvious choice of headwear, but his fedora matched his memorably stoic demeanor. It was an unusual style, but it worked.
— Jenny Vrentas
Gallery: Tom Landry’s Hat, Through the Years
Tom Landry’s Fedora
The famous fedora, still going strong in 1986. (Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated)
The famous fedora, still going strong in 1986. (Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated)
With fellow hat fancier and Cowboys GM Tex Schramm, 1959. (AP)
With fellow hat fancier and Cowboys GM Tex Schramm, 1959. (AP)
With quarterback Eddie Lebaron, 1961. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
With quarterback Eddie Lebaron, 1961. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
Talking with Don Meredith, 1966. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
Talking with Don Meredith, 1966. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
A preseason game with the Packers, 1970. (Neil Leifer)
A preseason game with the Packers, 1970. (Neil Leifer)
Stoic on the sideline for the NFC title game against the 49ers, January 1971. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
Stoic on the sideline for the NFC title game against the 49ers, January 1971. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
The facade breaks down as Landry and Craig Morton celebrate after the 17-10 win that sent Dallas to its first Super Bowl. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
The facade breaks down as Landry and Craig Morton celebrate after the 17-10 win that sent Dallas to its first Super Bowl. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
“Cool hat, Mister!“ After a playoff win in Minnesota in December 1971. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
“Cool hat, Mister!“ After a playoff win in Minnesota in December 1971. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
With Calvin Hill and blimp at Super Bowl VI, where the Cowboys would win their first NFL title. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
With Calvin Hill and blimp at Super Bowl VI, where the Cowboys would win their first NFL title. (Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)
Going with the straw look for summer, against the College All-Stars in July 1972. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
Going with the straw look for summer, against the College All-Stars in July 1972. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
With, among others, Ernie Stautner, Roger Staubach and Dan Reeves at Super Bowl X. (Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated)
With, among others, Ernie Stautner, Roger Staubach and Dan Reeves at Super Bowl X. (Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated)
Mild disagreement with a call during Super Bowl X. (Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated)
Mild disagreement with a call during Super Bowl X. (Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated)
Victory ride after defeating the Broncos in Super Bowl XII. (Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated)
Victory ride after defeating the Broncos in Super Bowl XII. (Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated)
Comapring chapeaux with Bum Phillips, 1979. (John Iacono/Sports Illustrated)
Comapring chapeaux with Bum Phillips, 1979. (John Iacono/Sports Illustrated)
With Dan Reeves in Denver, 1986. (Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated)
With Dan Reeves in Denver, 1986. (Andy Hayt/Sports Illustrated)
Jerry Jones, Mel Renfro and Roger Staubach join Landry for his induction into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, 1993.
Jerry Jones, Mel Renfro and Roger Staubach join Landry for his induction into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, 1993.
Landry (49) sported a different kind of headgear as a player for the Giants in the ’50s. (Corbis)
Landry (49) sported a different kind of headgear as a player for the Giants in the ’50s. (Corbis)
Shocker! A hatless Landry leading the Cowboys out in 1962. (Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated)
Shocker! A hatless Landry leading the Cowboys out in 1962. (Marvin E. Newman/Sports Illustrated)
Fittingly, the statue of Landry outside the Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington features the man as most remember him. (Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated)
Fittingly, the statue of Landry outside the Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington features the man as most remember him. (Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated)
Special thanks to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for facilitating the photo at the top of this story.
