Leon Lett is a former American football defensive tackle who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on October 12, 1968, in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Emporia State University in Kansas, where he played college football.
Lett was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a dominant force on the Cowboys' defensive line, earning a reputation as one of the best defensive tackles in the league. He was a key member of the Cowboys' defense during their Super Bowl victories in 1992 and 1993.
Lett's career was not without controversy, however. In Super Bowl XXVII, he recovered a fumble and began to celebrate prematurely, holding the ball out in front of him as he approached the end zone. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Don Beebe chased him down and knocked the ball out of his hand, preventing a touchdown. Lett was also involved in a memorable play in a Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins in 1993. With the Cowboys leading 14-13 and just seconds remaining in the game, Lett recovered a fumble and began to run towards the end zone. However, he slowed down and began to showboat, holding the ball out in front of him as he approached the goal line. Miami's Keith Jackson knocked the ball out of Lett's hand, and the Dolphins recovered the fumble and kicked a game-winning field goal.
Despite these miscues, Lett remained a key player for the Cowboys throughout the 1990s. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice (1994 and 1998) and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1994. He was also a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1990s.
Lett's career took a downturn in the late 1990s, however. He was suspended for the entire 1996 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, and he struggled with injuries in the years that followed. He was released by the Cowboys in 2000 and signed with the Denver Broncos, but he played in just four games before being released again.
Lett retired from the NFL in 2001 with 22.5 sacks, 128 tackles, and 7 fumble recoveries. He remained involved in football after his playing career ended, serving as a coach for the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He was also inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2011.
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