Remember When Toby Keith Recorded a Monday Night Football Opener?

Toby Keith's music was synonymous with patriotism, drinking and football. So it's no wonder he crafted a custom Monday Night Football opener using his song "Should've Been a Cowboy." The track was used exclusively for the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1990s.

While the original version was already pretty perfect for "America's Team," Keith did re-write some of the lyrics for the occasion. He references Mark Stepnoski and Emmitt Smith in the opening lines.

"Might have had an OG with a funny name / Throw a downfield block watching Emmitt's flame / Lookin' up through the roof at the Texas stars / A dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart," he sings.

The chorus even underwent a makeover, shouting out Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

"I should've been a Cowboy / I should have learned to play with pride / Wearing my silver star, marching down the field on a TD drive / Stealing the young girls' hearts / Just like Rog and Troy / Playing for America's team, oh, I should've been a Cowboy," Keith belts out in the custom chorus.

Was Toby Keith a Football Fan?

The "Red Solo Cup" singer was a big football fan and even played the game growing up. He played as a defensive end at Moore High School in his home state of Oklahoma. After high school, he went on to play semi-professional football for the Oklahoma City Drillers — a farm team for the United States Football League's Oklahoma Outlaws.

Keith has also performed at a couple of NFL games. Keeping in line with his support of the Cowboys, he headlined the halftime show for Dallas' traditional Thanksgiving Day game in 2003.

He performed a medley of his hits "How Do You Like Me Now?," "Beer for My Horses" and "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

How Did Toby Keith Die?

Keith passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, Feb. 5. The 62-year-old country icon died after a long battle with stomach cancer. He first announced his diagnosis in the summer of 2022.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Tricia, as well as his three children — Shelley, Krystal and Stelen. Keith also leaves behind four grandchildren.

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Toby Keith was one of the most influential artists in country music history, with a career spanning from the mid 1990s all the way until his death in 2024. Let's take a walk back in time and see pictures of Toby Keith young.

Gallery Credit: Evan Paul

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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

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