The Dallas Cowboys have one of the biggest fan bases in the league. Their knowledge about current and former Cowboys players is extremely well documented. As he head into the 2025 season, their hearts will be heavy and the team will have a little extra motivation.
Breaking: Former Cowboys Starter In His 30s Suffers Massive Heart Attack
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Henry Melton is fighting for his life:
At just 38 years old, Melton is recovering from a major heart surgery after doctors discovered a serious condition that nearly turned fatal. Just as he begins the long road to recovery, Melton is also grieving the loss of his mother, Cinithia Melton, who passed away earlier this week.
A fourth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2009, Melton played for the Cowboys during the 2014 season and was a key contributor on a playoff-bound team. But now, his days aren’t measured in tackles or sacks but in steps toward recovery. Longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. shared the heartbreaking news on social media, urging fans to pray for Melton.
“Please put former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Henry Melton in your prayers,” Hill wrote on X. “He is still recovering from a near fatal heart issue that required major surgery… now he has to deal with the loss of his mother.”
Back in February, Melton suffered a sudden and terrifying medical emergency. According to a GoFundMe page created by his family, Melton lost feeling in his legs without warning. His daughter, Pey, acted quickly and called 911.
Paramedics rushed him to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, where doctors diagnosed him with an aortic dissection- a tear in the major blood vessels branching from his heart. He underwent emergency open-heart surgery with just a 50/50 chance of survival.
The surgery saved his life, but the journey since hasn’t been easy. Melton spent three weeks in the ICU and now faces a future filled with ongoing medical care and physical recovery. Despite the severity of his condition, the GoFundMe notes that Melton is gradually getting back on his feet.
Here is a look at Melton’s stats:
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2010 | CHI | 16 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | CHI | 15 | 15 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 7.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | CHI | 14 | 14 | 44 | 32 | 12 | 6.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CHI | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 2014 | DAL | 16 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 5.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | TAM | 16 | 1 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | 36 | 134 | 95 | 39 | 22.5 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
