| Date of birth: | September 28, 1955 |
| Place of birth: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Offensive tackle |
| College: | Temple |
| NFL Draft: | 1977 / Round: 6 / Pick: 164 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1977-1986 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
James Albert Cooper (born September 28, 1955 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 through 1986. He played college football at Temple University. Cooper played high school football at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia, not far from the Temple campus.
He was a three sport athlete during his years at Cardinal Dougherty High School. His athletic ability earned him varsity letters in football, baseball, and track and field. He was the Catholic League champ in the shot put.
His teammates elected him captain of all three sports in his senior year.
He got a football scholarship from Temple University where he started for three years as an Offensive tackle.
He was inducted into the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Cooper was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft.
The NFL proved difficult at first, getting released at the end of his rookie training camp. But after being signed back during the preseason, he took advantage of this second opportunity, by learning 3 positions (Tackle, Guard, Center) and becoming the most versatile Offensive lineman in the team.
Cooper served as a utility lineman early in his career, playing every position on the Offensive line as a backup.
He became a fixture at right tackle, after replacing Rayfield Wright in 1979.
During his time with the Cowboys, center John Fitzgerald nicknamed the Cowboys offensive line as the "Four Irishmen and a Scott", when it was formed by him, Fitzgerald, Pat Donovan, Tom Rafferty and Herb Scott.
In 1984, he missed half of the season, after being injured on a bizarre accident, when he slipped while rising from a table at a night club, while watching Monday Night Football. He dislocated his right ankle and in the process broke a bone and ligaments. He was replaced by Phil Pozderac the rest of the season.
He retired in 1986, after being injured most of that year.
Cooper played in 134 games for the Cowboys from 1977 through 1986, including 2 Super Bowls.
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