Lee Roy Jordan, a 1983 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and a 1962 unanimous All-America center at Alabama, passed away Aug. 30. He was 84.
 
"Lee Roy Jordan was one of the truly great players of his era at Alabama, helping create critical momentum for the legendary career of Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "His toughness, leadership and consistency made him the kind of player every coach wanted, and every teammate respected. He was a wonderful person, and we are forever proud to call him a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the entire Alabama community."
 
Paul "Bear" Bryant became head coach at Alabama in 1958, and Lee Roy Jordan, who played both center and linebacker for the Crimson Tide, arrived a year later. Soon they were leading Alabama to the top.
 
In 1960, Jordan's sophomore year, Alabama went 8-1-2 with a 3-3 tie against Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Jordan was voted the Most Valuable Player in that game.
 
In 1961, Alabama outscored opponents 297-25 with no one scoring more than seven points in a game during the entire season. Alabama went undefeated at 11-0, including a 10-3 victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, and the flawless performance earned Hall of Fame coach Bryant the first of his six national titles.  
 
During his senior year in 1962, Jordan captained the Tide team, earning unanimous All-America honors, and Alabama went 10-1 with a 17-0 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Jordan made 30 tackles in that game.
 
His college coach, Bryant, summed up Jordan's performance by saying, "He was one of the finest football players the world has ever seen. If runners stayed between the sidelines, he tackled them. He never had a bad day, he was 100 percent every day in practice and in the games."
 
A first round NFL Draft pick (sixth overall) of the Dallas Cowboys in 1963, Jordan played 14 outstanding years with the franchise, earning five Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl ring with the team after the 1971 season.
 
A native of Excel, Alabama, and a product of Excel High School, Jordan was born April 27, 1941.  In addition to the College Football Hall of Fame Jordan is in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, and he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1988.