Mark Tuinei Mark Pulemau Tuinei ( March 31 , 1960 – May 6 , 1999 ) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys . Known as a " gentle giant " , his career lasted for 15 years ( 1983 – 1997 ) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run - block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowl s in 1992 , 1993 , and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992 - 96 . He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995 . Early life . Tuinei was born in Oceanside , California and raised in Nanakuli , Hawai ' i and attended Punahou School in Honolulu and graduated the year before Barack Obama . He was Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior , a state shot put champion and an all - star basketball player . College career . Tuinei played for two seasons at UCLA where he started at defensive tackle as a sophomore , finishing fifth on the team in tackles . As a junior he transferred home to the University of Hawaii , but was nagged by injuries his senior year and played in only seven games . He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame . His brother Tom Tuinei was an All - Western Athletic Conference defensive tackle at University of Hawaii and played for the Detroit Lions and the Canadian Football League ' s Edmonton Eskimos . Professional career . The 6 - foot - 5 , 320 - pound Tuinei signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 1983 as a rookie free agent and made the team as a defensive tackle . In 1985 , the Cowboys needed help at the offensive line and like defensive tackle s Blaine Nye and Pat Donovan before him , he was switched to offensive tackle . He played several spots along the offensive line until 1987 , when he became a full - time starter at left tackle . Tuinei helped protect Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman and helped paved the way for Hall of Fame RB Emmitt Smith to become the NFL all time leading rusher . Although he was just one of those unsung players that goes out and does their job , teammates admired Tuinei for his ability and toughness . He suffered knee injuries most of his career , yet he would play a total of 195 games . He was a key member on one of the best offensive line s in NFL history , helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII , XXVIII , and XXX and the NFC East Division in 1985 and from 1992 to 1996 . He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995 . Knee problems ended his career after the 1997 season , when Larry Allen took over for him at left tackle . Tuinei , is tied with Ed " Too Tall " Jones and Bill Bates for the most seasons in a Cowboy uniform — with 15 . He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackle s in the Cowboys franchise history . Death . In May 1999 , Tuinei was found unconscious in his car and pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in the Dallas suburb of Plano . He had been planning to return to Punahou School as offensive line coach . The autopsy revealed that Tuinei died of a lethal combination of heroin and a form of the drug ecstasy . His death was ruled an accident . Upon the release of the autopsy , Plano police chief Bruce Glasscock was quoted as saying that it was Tuinei ' s first experience with heroin . Glasscock did not elaborate how that determination was made . " What you had was a 39 - year - old male , 6 ' 5 " , in excess of 300 pounds , a healthy individual , took one shot of heroin and basically dropped dead as a result , " Glasscock said during his press conference regarding Tuinei . The four individuals who worked for the drug ring that provided Tuinei with the lethal dose of heroin were later sentenced in Sherman , Texas . Julian Solis Perez and Andres Milan were sentenced to eleven - year prison terms and Favian Ramos a twelve - year sentence . Jesus Carbajal received a life sentence . The men were charged , tried and convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine .