Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker D.D. Mississippi State, Lewis' alma mater, mourned his death on social media:Lewis, a sixth-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 1968, spent his entire 13-year NFL career in Dallas. During that time, he became a key piece in a defense that won a pair of Super Bowls in the 1970s. But Kurt Daniels, editor for the Cowboys' official magazine, noted that legendary head coach Tom Landry cited Lewis as one of the most underappreciated player from those teams. Bob Breunig, another Cowboys linebacker from that period, praised Lewis for his contributions behind the scenes as well.