Origins & Early Life

Thomas Wade Landry ( LAN-dree; September 11, 1924 – February 12, 2000) was an American professional football coach, player, and World War II bomber pilot. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he was the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL), a position he held for 29 seasons. During his coaching career, he created many new formations and methods, such as the now default 4–3 defense that is used by a majority of teams in the NFL, and the "flex defense" system made famous by the "Doomsday Defense" squads he built during his tenure with the Cowboys. His 29 consecutive years from 1960 to 1988 as the coach of one team is an NFL record, along with his 20 consecutive winning seasons, which is considered to be his most impressive professional accomplishment.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In addition to his record 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966 to 1985, Landry won two Super Bowl titles in Super Bowl VI and XII, five NFC titles, and 13 divisional titles. He compiled a 270–178–6 record, the fifth-most wins all-time for an NFL coach, and his 20 career playoff victories are the third-most of any coach in NFL history. Landry was also named the NFL Coach of...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anatole France — Contemporary (Died in 1924) (1924): Master French writer, poet, and journalist celebrated for irony and style.
• Antony Hewish — Contemporary (Born in 1924) (1924): Pioneering radio astronomer, celebrated for the discovery of pulsars.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee — Contemporary (Born in 1924) (1924): Indian statesman and poet, served as Prime Minister of India multiple times.
• A. E. van Vogt — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• Abraham Pais — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Alec Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Iconic English actor celebrated for stage mastery and cinematic versatility.
• Albert Soboul — Shared historical date (09-11 · Died) (1982): Influential French historian specializing in the French Revolution and Napoleonic eras.
• Bashar al-Assad — Shared historical date (09-11 · Born) (1965): Former President of Syria, known for his authoritarian rule and role in the Syrian Civil War.
• 13th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1876): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Abraham Lincoln — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1809): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• 1924 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1924
• September 11 (09-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 11
• 2000 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2000
• February 12 (02-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 12