Sean Lee

On March 24, 2020, Lee re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal.

On February 13, 2019, Lee announced he plans on returning for his ninth season. In week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, Lee sacked Jared Goff once and intercepted a pass thrown by Goff during the 44–21 win. In week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Lee recorded a team high 17 tackles during the 17–9 loss.

Lee finished the 2018 season with 30 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Lee was ranked 79th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

Lee finished the 2017 season with a career-high 100 tackles.

Lee helped lead the Cowboys defense to a 13-3 record in 2016. He was second only to Bobby Wagner in tackles and was named First-team All-Pro as a linebacker for the first time in his career. He was named to his second straight Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.

On August 24, 2013, the Dallas Cowboys signed Lee to a six-year, $42 million contract extension that included $16.13 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $10 million.

After the emergence of Rolando McClain at middle linebacker the previous year, Lee was moved to weakside linebacker to protect him from direct hits by the offensive line and take advantage of his playmaking abilities. In the second game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had 16 tackles (2 for loss), two passes defensed, an interception in the end zone, and sealed the 20–10 win with an onside kick recovery, although he also suffered a concussion. His performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. On December 7 against the Washington Redskins, he posted 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.

Promoted to starting inside linebacker in 2011, Lee thrived immediately in new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme. In the opening game versus the New York Jets, Lee intercepted Mark Sanchez to record the third interception of his career. His key interception of Rex Grossman and fumble recovery in the final minute of the Cowboys' Monday Night Football game versus the Washington Redskins were crucial in the 18-16 comeback.

In the 7th game of the 2011 season against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Field, Lee suffered a dislocated left wrist in the first quarter when he hit his hand against Michael Vick's helmet, but opted against having season ending surgery. After 7 games, Lee led the team in total tackles with 51, 15 more tackles than the next leading tackler, Gerald Sensabaugh with 36 total tackles. He also ranked first on the team with 3 interceptions, the only player on the team through the first seven games with more than one interception. In the eighth game of the season, Lee was inactive due to the wrist injury which he sustained the previous week.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Lee in the second round (55th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. The Cowboys traded their second round (59th overall) and their fourth round picks (125th overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in order to move up from to 55th overall in the second round to select Lee. It was speculated that his considerable fall from the first round was due to his history of injuries, that included a torn ACL on the right knee and partially torn ACL on the left knee during his last two seasons at Penn State, and through 2017, injuries have indeed prevented Lee from playing a full season's slate of NFL games. Lee was the fourth linebacker selected in the draft, behind Rolando McClain (first round, 8th overall), Sean Weatherspoon (first round, 19th overall), and Daryl Washington (second round, 47th overall).

On June 23, 2010, the Cowboys signed Lee to a four-year, $3.49 million contract that included $1.71 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.20 million. He was bothered by nagging injuries in training camp; consequently, he failed to see a lot of action on the field.

Lee's teammates again elected him team captain prior to the 2009 season.

After graduating from Upper St. Clair High School in Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania, Lee went on to play college football at Penn State. At this time he was rooming with fellow high school star Douglas Rheam of Canon McMillan. Heading into 2008, Lee was a starting outside linebacker for coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions for two consecutive seasons. In his junior year he was 2nd team all Big Ten, finishing second on the team in tackles with 138. He had a season high 17 tackles versus Illinois, and registered more than 10 tackles in all but three games. He also had two interceptions and three forced fumbles on the season.

In April 2008, Lee tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a non-contact drill at spring practice. Despite being forced to take a medical redshirt for the 2008 season, Lee's teammates elected him a team captain that season. While rehabbing, he opted to serve as an undergraduate assistant coach, participating in every practice and wearing a headset on the sidelines during games that season.

Sean Patrick Lee (born July 22, 1986) is an American football linebacker in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Penn State. He was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.