The Cowboys may be getting ready for a new chapter with the opening of their stadium in Arlington, but this also marks the 50th anniversary season for the club.
With the help of a nine-person panel, DallasCowboys.com decided to compile a list of the Top 50 players in team history. The panel included Brad Sham, the play-by-play radio voice of the Cowboys for 32 years, Dallascowboys.com columnist Mickey Spagnola, and website beat writers Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis. Also on the panel were Bill Jones, a Dallas-area broadcaster for more than 25 years, along with Cowboys TV and radio producers Jon Ingham, Bill Carruthers and Douglas Barricklow.
Each day we'll count down from 50, providing a quick look back and highlighting another key player that has helped build the Cowboys to America's Team status.
1. Roger Staubach Position: Quarterback Cowboys Career: 1969-79 Honors: Led Cowboys to 23 fourth-quarter comebacks; only QB to lead Cowboys to four Super Bowls. Highest Ranking From Panel: 1 (five votes)
In 1971, the Cowboys knew they had a great football team. They had future Hall of Famers all over the field, especially with a defense that featured four future Ring of Honor players. But head coach Tom Landry couldn't figure out what to do at quarterback.
He was so torn between the veteran Craig Morton and this inexperienced Roger Staubach, that he even rotated them for one game, play by play.
Finally, Landry knew he had to come to a decision because his team was suffering. With the Cowboys at 4-3 on the season, Landry picked Staubach, who not only led the Cowboys to a win over the Cardinals, but guided the team to 10 straight victories as well, including the franchise's first championship, a 24-3 win over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. In that game, Staubach was named Super Bowl MVP.
And as they say, the rest really was history.
Not only did Staubach lead the Cowboys for the entire decade of the 1970s, but he also epitomized an entire franchise in the process. With Staubach's unconventional playing style, the quarterback never gave up on a play. His elusiveness always kept the play alive and that translated to the team, which never gave up on a game.
With Staubach, the Cowboys always believed they could, and more importantly, would win games, no matter the deficit. So many times, the Cowboys did just that, earning Staubach the nickname "Captain Comeback."
In his career, Staubach led the Cowboys to 23 wins when trailing in the fourth quarter, including 17 of those games occurring in the final two minutes.
One of the first big comebacks for Staubach occurred in the 1972 season after he had missed most of the year with a shoulder injury. But he relieved an ineffective Morton in the NFC Divisional Playoffs with the Cowboys trailing the 49ers 28-16 late in the fourth quarter. But Staubach threw two touchdowns in the last two minutes of the games, rallying the Cowboys to a 30-28 win.
His most famous comeback actually has a nickname. Trailing the Vikings in the 1975 Divisional Playoffs, all hope seemed lost for the Cowboys, down 14-10 with less than a minute to play. But that's when Staubach found Drew Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown bomb - a play now known simply as "Hail Mary."
Another one of Staubach's memorable comebacks was actually his final game at Texas Stadium and turned out to be his final victory with the club, back in 1979. Fittingly, it was one of Staubach's greatest feats. Trailing the Redskins 34-21 with five minutes to play, he engineered a pair of touchdown drives, ending in an eight-yard touchdown pass to Tony Hill with just over 30 seconds to play. The Cowboys won that game, 35-34, but lost the next week in the playoffs.
Staubach announced his retirement in a teary press conference soon after the season ended.
When he retired from the game, Staubach had the second-highest passer rating in NFL history at 83.4. But with the new style of play now in the league, with a more spread-offense look, Staubach now ranks 27th on that list, although 20 quarterbacks ahead of him are active players.
Staubach led the Cowboys to four Super Bowls, winning two of them, with the two losses both coming at the hands of the Steelers. He made six Pro Bowls and led the NFL in touchdown passes with 23 in 1973. Four different times he led the NFL in passer rating.
Staubach was inducted into the Ring of Honor in 1983 and named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
But more than just stats and honors, Staubach was the face of the franchise during its most popular time. When the Cowboys became America's Team, it was Staubach leading the way. While he wasn't the first superstar in Cowboys' history and he didn't win as many Super Bowls as some of the other stars that came along in the 1990s, Staubach took the Cowboys to another level.
Despite all the great stars that have followed, Roger Staubach was, is, and will always be a monumental fixture in Cowboys history.
2. Emmitt Smith Position: Running Back Cowboys Career: 1990-2002 Honors: NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards; 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons Highest Ranking From Panel: 1 (three votes)
Some eight months after destroying Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII, the Cowboys saw virtually the same Bills come into Texas Stadium and steal a Week 2 victory, dropping the defending champions to 0-2. But one thing was clear, this wasn't the same Cowboys team.
It was lacking something. It was lacking Emmitt Smith.
The next week, the holdout running back and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came to their senses and Smith was back in uniform. Not only that, the Cowboys were back, too. Smith went on to lead the league in rushing for a third year, was named league MVP and led the Cowboys to another Super Bowl title, in which he was named MVP of that game as well, scoring two touchdowns.
The 1993 season was evidence just how important Emmitt was to the Cowboys. Not just the start when the Cowboys lost two games without him, but he brought a level of confidence to the entire team. In the Super Bowl rematch with the Bills, the Cowboys were tied 13-13 early in the third quarter when they decided to let Smith take over. He carried the ball eight straight times, scoring a touchdown to cap the drive. He would score again on a key fourth-down play en route to the MVP award.
Troy Aikman might have engineered the Cowboys' attack. And Michael Irvin has been called the heart and soul of those teams. But Emmitt Smith ran the show - literally. So many times, it was Smith carrying the team on his shoulders in the fourth quarter.
Speaking of shoulders, it was an injury to Emmitt's shoulder during one particular game that might be his most memorable moment. The Cowboys and Giants faced off at the Meadowlands in the 1993 season finale with the winner claiming the NFC East. Smith injured his shoulder during a run, but it couldn't knock him out of the game. He willed himself and the team to an overtime victory in which he rushed for 168 yards on 32 carries, and also had 10 receptions for 61 yards.
When it comes to stats, no other running back can touch Emmitt Smith, who not only holds the NFL's all-time rushing mark with 18,355 yards, but he's also the all-time leader with 164 rushing touchdowns. His 175 total touchdowns rank second all-time to Jerry Rice (207).
When it comes to postseason records, Smith ranks at the top in several categories as well, including rushing yards (1,586), rushing touchdowns (19) and 100-yard games (seven).
Smith was a model of consistency right from the start of his career. Although he missed all of training camp in 1990 with a contract holdout, he quickly proved to fans he would be an elite back. He rushed for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. From then on, Smith would be a 1,000-yard back, eclipsing that mark 11 straight years, including four seasons when he led the NFL.
In 1995, Smith rushed for a then-NFL record 25 touchdowns in a season, along with 1,773 yards.
In three Super Bowl appearances, Smith scored five rushing touchdowns, more than any other player.
An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, he was named to the All-Pro first-team five times.
Although he finished his playing career with the Arizona Cardinals, Smith's retirement press conference included a Cowboys helmet and was accompanied by owner Jerry Jones. Smith retired as a Dallas Cowboy and just one year later was inducted into the Ring of Honor along with Aikman and Irvin.
This time next year, it's very likely that Smith will be headed to Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. Smith is a first-ballot Hall of Famer if there ever was one.
3. Bob Lilly Position: Defensive End/Tackle Cowboys Career: 1961-74 Honors: Cowboys record 11 Pro Bowl selections; First player inducted into Ring of Honor Highest Ranking From Panel: 1 (one vote)
Over 50 years, the Cowboys' franchise has been full of superstars. So many great players, many of them can be argued as the best to ever play their respected positions.
But with all the great ones, someone had to come first. For the Cowboys, the first great player, and one who many former teammates, fans and longtime media members still call the best football player they ever saw, was Bob Lilly.
As the pioneer of great players in Dallas, Lilly was commonly dubbed "Mr. Cowboy," a nickname that still stands even today.
Lilly was truly dominating as the leader of the original "Doomsday Defense." He started his career at defensive end for the first three years, making the Pro Bowl in one of them, before settling into his natural spot at defensive tackle. Lilly made 10 straight Pro Bowls from 1964-73, and he's the only player in club history to be selected to 11 Pro Bowls. He was also named first-team All-Pro seven times.
Some of Lilly's most memorable moments occurred in consecutive Super Bowls in the 1970 and 1971 seasons. After the Cowboys allowed a last-second field goal to the Colts, losing Super Bowl V and continuing their dubious distinction as "Next Year's Champions," Lilly made one of the most famous throws in club history. Unfortunately for him, Lilly tossed his helmet in the air about 40 yards in disgust.
However, the Cowboys would return to the big game the following season and with Lilly leading the way, the Doomsday Defense finally delivered the Cowboys their first championship, crushing the Dolphins, 24-3. One of the signature plays in the game occurred in the second half when Lilly chased Miami quarterback Bob Griese for a Super-Bowl record 29-yard sack, arguably the most famous play of his career.
Lilly's toughness, versatility and instincts made him one of the best players of all time. His durability was phenomenal as well. In 14 years, Lilly never missed a game and still holds the Cowboys' record for consecutive games played with 196.
He retired from the Cowboys in 1974 and just one year later, he became the first player ever inducted into the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium. Lilly was later enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, the first true Cowboys player represented in Canton, Ohio.
Lilly also has the distinction of being named to two different All-Decade teams, voted on by members of the Hall of Fame. Lilly made the '60s and '70s squads.
In 1994, a panel consisting of media and league personnel voted on a NFL 75th Anniversary team, with Lilly joining Merlin Olsen and "Mean Joe" Greene as the only three defensive tackles selected.
Bob Lilly is a walking example that legends live forever. He's the first great Cowboys player in club history and 35 years after his retirement, he's still considered one of the best players the franchise has ever known.
4. Troy Aikman Position: Quarterback Cowboys Career: 1989-2000 Honors: Only Cowboys quarterback and just one of four NFL passers to win three Super Bowls. Highest Ranking From Panel: 2
When the Cowboys were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in 1989, it was clear the once-proud franchise was in need of a miracle. One great player wouldn't change this team around. In fact, it took several players, a big trade, not to mention a huge coaching swap and a change of ownership.
But when the Cowboys drafted Troy Aikman with the top pick in 1989, they were basically asking him to be the savior of America's Team. Too often in sports, players fail to live up to enormous expectations. But Troy Aikman not only lived up to them, he surpassed them. Aikman was drafted to deliver Super Bowls for the Cowboys and he did just that, winning three in a four-year span, something that had never been done in the NFL before.
Aikman had plenty of help in the form of Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek and an offensive line that was considered the best in football during the 1990s. But many would argue that while he had a great supporting cast, Aikman made his teammates better.
His pinpoint accuracy rivals some of the best quarterbacks in the game. No stat better indicates the combination of an accurate quarterback and a big-time performer than Aikman's 70 percent completion percentage in three Super Bowl games, the highest in NFL history.
Aikman ranks fourth all-time with a 63.7 completion percentage in playoff games, and his 88.3 quarterback rating in the postseason is sixth-best in league history.
Of course, winning Super Bowls and thriving in the playoffs seemed a little farfetched for Aikman and the Cowboys, especially during that first season. The Cowboys went 1-15 and Aikman was 0-11 as a starter. But with an abundance of high draft picks in the next two seasons, the Cowboys gradually improved as a franchise.
In 1992, Aikman led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record, but it took a masterful performance in the rain and mud against San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game to propel the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl in 16 seasons. Aikman out-dueled Steve Young, advancing the Cowboys to play the Buffalo Bills, who proved to be no match. Aikman was named Super Bowl XXVII MVP with four touchdown passes in a 52-17 blowout.
Aikman guided the Cowboys to two more Super Bowls in the next three seasons. In all, he won more games in the 1990s (90) than any player in that decade or any other decade in league history.
He made six Pro Bowls in six straight years from 1991-96, tying him with Roger Staubach for most selections by a Cowboys quarterback. Aikman holds Cowboys records for most touchdown passes (165), passing yards (32,942) and completion percentage (61.5)
While concussions and other injuries eventually forced his retirement in 2000, Aikman was clearly the face of the franchise during the Cowboys' most successful decade.
Asked to save the Cowboys, Aikman did that, and so much more.
5. Tony Dorsett Position: Running Back Cowboys Career: 1977-87 Honors: Four-time Pro Bowler; had six scoring plays longer than 75 yards, including NFL-record 99-yard run. Highest Ranking From Panel: 5
A common phrase in sports is 'records are meant to be broken.' Usually, that is case.
However, Tony Dorsett holds one that will never fall. His 99-yard run from scrimmage in a 1982 game can never be broken, only tied. And if any player does make that 99-yard run, it's unlikely his team will have just 10 players on the field when it happens.
That was the scenario for Dorsett and the Cowboys during the regular-season finale against Minnesota on Monday Night Football. A mix-up in the huddle sent blocking back Ron Springs to the sidelines, which left the Cowboys with 10 players on the field and the ball at their own 1.
But it turned out to be no problem for Dorsett, who busted right up the middle of the field and then danced to the outside, where he used his blazing speed to get down the field and all the way to the end zone for the record-breaking run.
That touchdown might be Dorsett's most memorable play, but it didn't exactly define his career. More than anything, that single play embodied many of the characteristics that made Dorsett one of the greatest backs, not just in Cowboys history, but in all of professional football.
He wasn't the first greatest tailback to don the Blue & Silver for the Cowboys, following greats such as Don Perkins and Calvin Hill. But Dorsett was probably the first true explosive running back with home-run hitting speed. In fact, nothing against the NFL's all-time leading rusher in Emmitt Smith, but even he didn't have that quick-hitter ability that set Dorsett apart from just about every back in the league.
Five of the eight-longest runs in Cowboys history belong to Dorsett, whose 84-yard touchdown jaunt against the Eagles his rookie season is the club's second-longest run. Dorsett also has the Cowboys' second-longest reception in team history with a 91-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach in 1978 that came from a screen pass.
Dorsett, a Heisman Trophy winner in 1976 for the University of Pittsburgh, also led his school to the national championship that same season. He continued his success to the pro ranks, where he was picked No. 2 overall by the Cowboys and led the team with 1,007 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns en route to being named NFL Rookie of the Year.
If that wasn't enough, Dorsett and the Cowboys beat Denver in Super Bowl XII, capping quite a 14-month span for the running back, who won the Heisman, led his college to the national championship, led all rookies in rushing, won Rookie of the Year and helped his team win a Super Bowl.
Dorsett's best season came in 1981, when he rushed for 1,646 yards. He had eight 1,000-yard seasons in his first nine years, only missing out in the strike-shortened 1982 season that was cut to just nine games.
The tailback made four Pro Bowls, including three straight from 1981-83. He finished his Cowboys career with 12,033 rushing yards before he was traded to Denver. Dorsett rushed for 703 yards in 1988 before injuries eventually led to his retirement.
Just like Dorsett enjoyed an abundance of honors at the end of his college career and the start of his pro career, he enjoyed a similar run in 1994, long after he had retired from football. But in 1994, Dorsett was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium.
Currently, Dorsett is the Cowboys' second-leading rusher and he ranks seventh in NFL history as well.
Top Honorable Mention:
Jim Jeffcoat
Frank Clarke
Roy Williams
Doug Cosbie
Thomas Henderson
Bob Breunig
Alvin Harper
Dennis Thurman
Robert Newhouse
Russell Maryland
Duane Thomas
Jerry Tubbs
Larry Cole
Herb Scott
Dave Manders
Ken Norton
Preston Pearson
Dave Edwards
Greg Ellis
Eugene Lockhart
Dexter Coakley
D.D. Lewis
Mike Clark
Butch Johnson
Chris Boniol
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1. Roger Staubach
2. Emmitt Smith
3. Bob Lilly
4. Troy Aikman
5. Tony Dorsett
