Laurence Tureaud (born May 21, 1952), nicknamed Mr. T, is a retired American football player best known for playing middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1974-1978 and the Dallas Cowboys from 1979-1988, when he retired. Tureaud was one of the most feared players in his era, known for his relentless, hard-hitting style and his imbeccable physical stamina. Called "Mr. T" by the Dallas press due to initial difficulty in spelling and pronouncing his last name, he became seen as a flamboyant and popular player during the 1980s, during which he won three championships with the Cowboys and played on some of the best statistical defenses in AFL history. Following his retirement after the 1988 season, the Cowboys retired his No. 50 jersey and inducted him into the Cowboys Ring of Honor,