Nov. 17, 2005
John Niland, a member of Iowa’s all-time football team, will be the honorary captain when the Hawkeyes face Minnesota Saturday in Iowa City. The game is sold out and kickoff is set for 11:03 a.m. in Kinnick Stadium.
Niland, an offensive lineman from Amityville, NY, lettered three times (1963-65) under Coach Jerry Burns. He will accompany the Iowa captains to the center of the field for the pre-game coin-flip. He will also be with the Hawkeyes on the sidelines and in the locker room before and after the game.
Niland won all-America honors as an offensive guard in 1964 and 1965. He played in the East-West, Hula Bowl and Chicago Tribune all-star games following his senior campaign. He was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (fifth) of the 1966 NFL draft.
He won all-pro honors numerous times during an 11-year (1966-76) NFL career. He was a member of the Cowboys Super Bowl teams in 1971 and 72. The Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1972. Niland also played for the Philadelphia Eagles near the end of his playing days. He is a member of the Cowboys all-time team.