Countdown to the season opener: Day 61 Andre Gurode

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 61) with some Cowboys history

We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.

Today – number 61.

Andre Gurode

Born: March 6, 1978. Houston, Texas
Position: Center
Dallas Cowboys: 2002-2010
Awards: All-Pro- 2007, 2009
Pro Bowl– 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Andre Gurode played offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys from 2002 to 2010, after being selected in the second round (pick 37) out of the University of Colorado. Initially playing both guard and center, Gurode eventually settled in as the Cowboys’ starting center, where he became a dominant force thanks to his size, strength, and nasty streak. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors, anchoring an offensive line with his talents that the league considered as one of the best centers of his era.

Best known for:
Gurode was best known for his physical dominance and Pro Bowl consistency as the Cowboys’ starting center, serving as a tone-setter in the trenches for nearly a decade.

Lesser known fact:
Gurode was involved in one of the most shocking moments in NFL history. He was the victim of Albert Haynesworth’s face stomp in a 2006 game, which led to Haynesworth receiving a five-game suspension, the longest for an on-field incident at the time. Despite suffering facial injuries that required stitches, Gurode chose not to press charges, earning widespread respect for his professionalism and composure.

Photo by James D. Smith /Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images