They don't get much bigger than this, a prime-time showdown between two of the best teams in the NFL who just so happen to also be heated divisional foes. Players don't need any added motivation this week, no rah-rah speeches from coaches or bulletin-board fodder. They know the stakes.
However, there are a handful of players in the history between these two who know both sides of the rivalry, guys who suited up for the Cowboys and Eagles during their NFL careers. According to The Football Database, a total of 68 players have done so, including the most recent one, Jason Peters, who appeared in 12 games for Dallas last year after 11 seasons in Philadelphia.
But who are the best of the bunch to double-dip? Harold Carmichael built a Hall of Fame career in 13 years with the Eagles, but signed by Tom Landry in 1984, he managed only two games with Dallas and just one catch before retiring.
Or how about Sam Baker, who made the Pro Bowl with both teams back in the 1960s? He joins fellow kickers like Chris Boniol, Mike Clark, Eddie Murray, Roger Ruzek and Luis Zendejas – one of the central figures in the Bounty Bowl – on the exclusive list.
Others such as Brian Baldinger, Jimmie Jones, Mark Sanchez and Orlando Scandrick wore both blue and green during their careers, but not up to the standards of this top-10 group. So with that, here are 10 of the best to have called themselves a Cowboy and an Eagle.
There are a handful of players in the history between these two who know both sides of the rivalry, guys who suited up for the Cowboys and Eagles during their NFL careers.
10. Miles Austin, Wide Receiver – Dallas (2006-13) • Philadelphia (2015)
An undrafted rookie out of tiny Monmouth University, Austin went on to play eight seasons with Dallas. That included back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2009-10 that also brought him Pro Bowl honors. After a year spent in Cleveland, he was signed to a one-year contract by Philadelphia but unfortunately struggled as an Eagle. In his final NFL season, he played in 11 games with just one start before being released in December 2015.
9. Rodney Peete, Quarterback – Dallas (1994) • Philadelphia (1995-98)
After beginning his career as a starter in Detroit, Peete was added to the Cowboys roster in 1994 to back up Troy Aikman. And his one start actually came against the Eagles when he led Dallas to a 31-19 victory. That was enough for Philadelphia to then sign him the next season, and he would make 12 starts for the club in 1995 before being relegated to backup duties over his final three years in Philly.
8. Kelvin Martin, Wide Receiver – Dallas (1997-92; 1996) • Philadelphia (1995)
Martin spent the first six seasons of his career with the Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl in 1992 before hitting free agency as a salary-cap casualty. After a two-year stint in Seattle, he was picked up by the Eagles and led the team in punt return yards despite being limited to nine games due to injury. Martin then spent one more year back in Dallas in 1996, retiring as the franchise's all-time leader in punt return yards (1,803).
7. Randall Cunningham, Quarterback – Philadelphia (1985-95) • Dallas (2000)
Philadelphia's starting quarterback for more than a decade, Cunningham still ranks third on the Eagles' all-time list for passing yards (22,877) and sixth in rushing yards (4,482). He was also 9-4 in his career against the Cowboys, which may have helped Dallas later sign him to a one-year deal in 2000 to back up Troy Aikman. Cunningham made six appearances that season, including one of his three starts in a 16-13 overtime loss at Philadelphia.
6. John Niland, Guard – Dallas (1966-1974) • Philadelphia (1975)
Many who saw him play would tell you Niland deserves Ring of Honor consideration. A first-round pick in 1966, he helped the Cowboys reach the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons with the team. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was then traded to Philadelphia in September 1975 and played well for the Eagles that year. Unfortunately, though, his career came to an end the next season after suffering a severe knee injury in training camp.
5. DeMarco Murray, Running Back – Dallas (2011-14) • Philadelphia (2015)
A draft pick of the Cowboys in 2011, Murray spent four years with the team, leading the league in rushing yards (1,845) in 2014 to earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He used that performance to sign a free agent deal with Philadelphia, but spent only one frustrating season with the Eagles, starting just eight games. Traded to Tennessee the next year, Murray spent his final two NFL seasons with the Titans, earning another Pro Bowl invite in 2016.
4. Tommy McDonald, Wide Receiver – Philadelphia (1957-1963) • Dallas (1964)
Earning Pro Bowl honors in five of his seven seasons with Philadelphia, McDonald was on the Eagles' championship squad of 1960 before then leading the league in receiving yards (1,144) and touchdown catches (13) in 1961. Acquired by Dallas prior to the 1964 campaign, he would finish second on the Cowboys in receiving yards (612) in his one year with the club. McDonald would eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Herschel Walker, Running Back – Dallas (1986-89; 1996-97) • Philadelphia (1992-94)
Walker is perhaps most famously known for being the centerpiece of a 1989 trade with the Vikings that brought a haul of draft picks, but he was also a two-time Pro Bowler with the Cowboys in 1987-88. Walker would go on to spend three seasons with the Eagles, topping 1,000 yards in his first year of 1992, before eventually wrapping up his career back in Dallas with two more productive campaigns backing up Emmitt Smith and returning kickoffs.
- Tommy McDonald, Wide Receiver – Philadelphia (1957-1963) • Dallas (1964)
Earning Pro Bowl honors in five of his seven seasons with Philadelphia, McDonald was on the Eagles' championship squad of 1960 before then leading the league in receiving yards (1,144) and touchdown catches (13) in 1961. Acquired by Dallas prior to the 1964 campaign, he would finish second on the Cowboys in receiving yards (612) in his one year with the club. McDonald would eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
- DeMarco Murray, Running Back – Dallas (2011-14) • Philadelphia (2015)
A draft pick of the Cowboys in 2011, Murray spent four years with the team, leading the league in rushing yards (1,845) in 2014 to earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He used that performance to sign a free agent deal with Philadelphia, but spent only one frustrating season with the Eagles, starting just eight games. Traded to Tennessee the next year, Murray spent his final two NFL seasons with the Titans, earning another Pro Bowl invite in 2016.
- John Niland, Guard – Dallas (1966-1974) • Philadelphia (1975)
Many who saw him play would tell you Niland deserves Ring of Honor consideration. A first-round pick in 1966, he helped the Cowboys reach the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons with the team. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was then traded to Philadelphia in September 1975 and played well for the Eagles that year. Unfortunately, though, his career came to an end the next season after suffering a severe knee injury in training camp.
- Randall Cunningham, Quarterback – Philadelphia (1985-95) • Dallas (2000)
Philadelphia's starting quarterback for more than a decade, Cunningham still ranks third on the Eagles' all-time list for passing yards (22,877) and sixth in rushing yards (4,482). He was also 9-4 in his career against the Cowboys, which may have helped Dallas later sign him to a one-year deal in 2000 to back up Troy Aikman. Cunningham made six appearances that season, including one of his three starts in a 16-13 overtime loss at Philadelphia.
- Kelvin Martin, Wide Receiver – Dallas (1997-92; 1996) • Philadelphia (1995)
Martin spent the first six seasons of his career with the Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl in 1992 before hitting free agency as a salary-cap casualty. After a two-year stint in Seattle, he was picked up by the Eagles and led the team in punt return yards despite being limited to nine games due to injury. Martin then spent one more year back in Dallas in 1996, retiring as the franchise's all-time leader in punt return yards (1,803).
- Rodney Peete, Quarterback – Dallas (1994) • Philadelphia (1995-98)
After beginning his career as a starter in Detroit, Peete was added to the Cowboys roster in 1994 to back up Troy Aikman. And his one start actually came against the Eagles when he led Dallas to a 31-19 victory. That was enough for Philadelphia to then sign him the next season, and he would make 12 starts for the club in 1995 before being relegated to backup duties over his final three years in Philly.
- Miles Austin, Wide Receiver – Dallas (2006-13) • Philadelphia (2015)
An undrafted rookie out of tiny Monmouth University, Austin went on to play eight seasons with Dallas. That included back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2009-10 that also brought him Pro Bowl honors. After a year spent in Cleveland, he was signed to a one-year contract by Philadelphia but unfortunately struggled as an Eagle. In his final NFL season, he played in 11 games with just one start before being released in December 2015.
2. Mike Ditka, Tight End – Philadelphia (1967-68) • Dallas (1969-81)
Though primarily known as a player and coach for Chicago, Ditka spent time in both Philadelphia and Dallas. With the Cowboys, he helped the team reach the Super Bowl in 1970 and 1971, recording a touchdown catch in Dallas' Super Bowl VI victory. Retiring after the 1972 season, he joined Tom Landry's coaching staff, where he remained until he was hired to lead the Bears. Ditka was inducted into Hall of Fame as a player in 1988.
1. Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver – Philadelphia (2004-05) • Dallas (2006-08)
After starting his career with the 49ers, the mercurial receiver had an interesting two-year run in Philadelphia. Owens was an All-Pro in 2004, but was eventually suspended by the team the next year. On to Dallas he went, where he topped 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons, led the NFL with 13 touchdowns in 2006 and again earned All-Pro status in 2007. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of fame in 2018.
