Buffs Great Gurode Selected As One Of Top 60 Players In Dallas Cowboys History

BOULDER — Former Colorado Buffaloes offensive line great Andre Gurode has added another honor to his already impressive resume.

Gurode, who enjoyed an 11-year NFL career after leaving CU following the 2001 season, has been selected as one of the Dallas Cowboys' all-time Top 60 players in franchise history. The Cowboys are honoring their Top 60 this year in recognition of their 60th year anniversary celebration.

Gurode played nine years with the Cowboys and became one of the league's most dominant and consistent centers, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl honors and three All-Pro designations during his time in Dallas. He also produced eight seasons in which he had five or fewer penalties, and he finished with 131 starts in 161 games played.

But being selected as one of the top 60 players in the history of one of the NFL's most-storied franchises is an achievement that cements his standing as one of the best Cowboys ever.

A four-year letterman at Colorado, Gurode was a three-year starting mainstay at guard and center for the Buffs from 1999-2001. He anchored the 2001 line that produced one of the most productive rushing attacks in CU history (2,742 yards), paving the way to a historic 62-36 win over Nebraska in the regular season finale, a 39-37 win over Texas in the Big 12 championship game and a Fiesta Bowl berth. Gary Barnett's Buffs finished ninth in both of the major polls that season, the last time a Colorado team has finished in the top 10.

An Associated Press and Sporting News first-team All-American in 2001, Gurode was selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He worked his way into the starting lineup in his first training camp, and became the first rookie in club history to start at center on opening day.

In 2003, Gurode was moved to guard and he struggled with the switch. But by 2006, he had moved back to center and reclaimed his starting spot. That year, he earned his first of five straight Pro Bowl honors, and he is still the only Dallas center ever to be selected for five consecutive Pro Bowls.

Gurode is No. 51 on the Cowboys' all-time list, a group that includes such legendary players as Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, as well as current players such as Dak Prescott.

Gurode still makes his home in the Dallas area. 

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu