John Dutton ( defensive lineman ) John Owen Dutton ( born February 6 , 1951 in Rapid City , South Dakota ) is a former professional football player , a defensive lineman in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and Dallas Cowboys . He played 14 seasons , from 1974 - 87 . Early years . Dutton graduated from Central High School in Rapid City in 1969 , where led the Cobblers to the state Class A basketball title in his senior year . He was all - state in basketball and football two years and was a high school All - America n in both sports . He also was an accomplished Discus throw er . College career . Although he received more scholarship offers for basketball , he signed with Nebraska to play college football for head coach Bob Devaney . In 1971 , as an alternate starter , he was part of the 1971 national championship team . Dutton participated in the 1971 Nebraska - Oklahoma game , also called the " Game of the Century " , generally considered as one of the greatest college football games ever played . As a senior in 1973 under new head coach Tom Osborne , he earned All - America and All - Big 8 honors , finishing fourth on the team with 63 tackles . In the 1974 Cotton Bowl in Dallas against the University of Texas Longhorns , Dutton and the Blackshirts held the Longhorns to one field goal and 196 total yards . It was the Huskers ' fifth bowl victory in as many seasons . In 1981 , he was inducted into the Nebraska football Hall of Fame . He was also inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame . Professional career . Baltimore Colts . Dutton was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft , the 5th overall pick . In 1974 , the 6 - foot - 7 , 266 - pound defensive end was named to NFL all - rookie team . In 1975 as a defensive end and member of the " Sack Pack " , he led the Colts in sacks with a career - high 17 and was named to the first of three straight Pro Bowl s 1975 – 77 , becoming one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL . Dallas Cowboys . In October 1979 , a contract dispute forced the Colts to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys . Because of the retirement of Jethro Pugh and the desire of Ed " Too Tall " Jones to become a professional boxer , the Cowboys traded the first and second round picks in the 1980 NFL Draft . When Jones returned in 1980 , Dutton moved to defensive tackle alongside Randy White , establishing a formidable defensive line that also included Harvey Martin . He was part of the 1985 defensive unit that holds the Cowboys ’ single - season sack record ( 62 ) . During his 9 years in Dallas , he helped the Cowboys reach the NFC title game three straight years ( 1980 , 1981 and 1982 ) . He may have been the best Cowboys defensive lineman to have never won a Super Bowl ring . Dutton retired in 1987 , after 14 seasons and 185 games in the NFL . He recorded only 18 official sacks , because the NFL didn ' t recognize quarterback sacks as an official statistic until 1982 . Personal life . After his career in the NFL , former Husker Dutton retired to Lincoln , Nebraska . He became involved in businesses and for a short time owned and operated Dutton ' s Den , an off - sale liquor store and restaurant .