Daryl "Moose" Johnston

The Dallas Cowboys fullback was first given the name about four years ago by quarterback Babe Laufenberg, now a commentator during game broadcasts for the team. Johnston's road to "Moosedom" began at a team meeting.

"We had all these 5-foot-9 running backs at the time -- all little guys," Laufenberg said. "Daryl was in the back of the pack when they came in, and I said something like, 'Look at all the deer, and there's a big ol' moose behind them.'"

Though Cowboys radio announcer Brad Sham described Johnston as "the magnificent Caribou" during one game, the "Moose" name stuck, and numerous calls for the large antler-bearing mammal can be heard during home and road games.

The nickname has spawned T-shirts, foam antlers and other Moose-abilia.

Daryl Johnston is a true iron man, having never missed a game in his NFL career, playing in 143 straight.

In 1992 he won the Ed Block Courage Award given to the Cowboy player who demonstrates unusual courage in dealing with injuries.

An All-America and All-Big East pick at Syracuse, Johnston rushed for 1,830 yards and caught 46 passes during his collegiate career...Against Boston College in 1988, Johnston gained 138 yards rushing, the most by a Syracuse running back since Larry Csonka rushed for 154 yards in 1967...The Orangemen won 21 games during Johnston's final two seasons.

Named Western New York Player of the Year in 1983 while playing for Lewiston-Porter High School...Daryl graduated at the top of his class of 290 students with a 4.0 grade point average and earned a degree in economics from Syracuse.

Daryl has helped raise funds for a program called "The Reading Team" to support literacy groups in Texas and has appeared on the PBS children's television show Wishbone to promote literacy. In addition he hosts a weekly radio show on KRLD (1080 AM) during the season called "The Moose Call".

Daryl and his wife Diane served as honorary co-chairs for the annual Halloween Bash benefitting Irving Infant Intervention. Annually the couple suits-up as celebrity escorts at the Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show.

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