Who are the ten greatest Cowboys gamers of all time?

The Dallas Cowboys are thought-about one of many biggest franchises in NFL historical past, nicknamed “America’s Team”.

As considered one of 4 groups in league historical past with a minimum of 5 Super Bowl titles, it’s a franchise that has boasted quite a few extremely profitable stars over time. This makes it particularly tough to reply the query: who’re the best gamers in staff historical past?

FOX Sports Research took on the duty of answering that query by crunching the numbers and rating the ten greatest Cowboys gamers of all time.

While there are some apparent selections on the prime, there are additionally some stunning names that made it to our checklist when analyzing their performances.

Where does your favourite Cowboy slot in?

Let’s have a look:

10. Jason Witten

One of the best tight ends of all time, Witten helped elevate the Cowboys’ offense within the 2000s and 2010s. He was a Pro Bowl mainstay for a lot of his profession, incomes the distinction 11 instances in his 16 seasons with the Cowboys. He had a minimum of 900 receiving yards in seven of these seasons, most of which coincided with successful years in Dallas. Although Witten by no means gained a Super Bowl in Dallas, he established himself as one of many sport’s biggest tight ends. He is second all-time amongst tight ends in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046) and is sixth all-time in landing receptions amongst tight ends (74). In truth, his reception whole is so excessive that it ranks fourth all-time, no matter place.

9. Mel Renfro

Renfro was one of many first nice gamers in Cowboys historical past. Joining the staff in 1964, Renfro instantly turned an impactful participant as he earned the primary of 10 consecutive Pro Bowl nominations as a rookie. Toward the second half of that run, the Cowboys emerged as a contender. He helped them win two Super Bowls and attain one other, the place he recorded an interception within the 1970 NFC Championship Game, a play that allowed the Cowboys to attain the game-winning landing over the 49ers. He led the league in interceptions the earlier season with 10, ending his profession with 52. This whole will not be solely the fifth-highest ever amongst safeties, however it’s also the very best in Cowboys historical past.

8. Michael Irvin

Irvin was considered one of three gamers who made up “The Triplets” trio, important to the Cowboys’ dynastic run within the Nineteen Nineties. The Cowboys huge receiver was particularly important to the 1992 Super Bowl victory, recording six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in Super Bowl XXVII in opposition to the Buffalo Bills. Irvin was a five-time Pro Bowler, recording seven 1,000-yard seasons in an eight-year span through the Nineteen Nineties. His profession ended comparatively early and abruptly because of a spinal damage suffered within the 1999 season, however it’s clear that he has established himself as the most effective gamers in Cowboys historical past because of his significance within the three Super Bowl victories.

7. Randy White

The Cowboys had a pair of gamers ranked within the prime 10 of FOX Sports’ inside defensive linemen checklist. White was the decrease ranked of the 2, however had a stellar profession within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties serving to the Cowboys win one other Super Bowl title in 1977. He earned Super Bowl MVP honors for his efficiency in that sport, slowing down the Denver Broncos’ offense within the win. That yr additionally marked the primary of 9 consecutive seasons during which White was named a Pro Bowler, recording a minimum of 10 (unofficial) sacks in 5 completely different seasons. He posted 111 unofficial sacks over his 14-year profession.

6. Tony Dorsett

Dorsett additionally performed a job within the Cowboys’ 1977 championship season, successful Offensive Rookie of the Year and rapidly establishing himself as a franchise icon. He additionally rushed for a landing within the Super Bowl victory. The following season, Dorsett earned his first of 4 Pro Bowl nominations and had considered one of his eight top-10 finishes in speeding yards. This additionally marked considered one of eight years during which Dorsett rushed for a minimum of 1,000 yards, posting a career-best 1,646 speeding yards in 1981. Dorsett completed his 12-year profession with 12,739 yards, which is tenth of all instances.

5.Larry Allen

Allen was solely ready to participate in one of many Cowboys’ Super Bowl victories within the Nineteen Nineties, having been drafted in 1994. But he nonetheless established himself as the most effective gamers in Cowboys historical past and the most effective offensive linemen in NFL historical past . He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro over his 14-year profession, incomes 10 of these Pro Bowl honors in his 12 seasons in Dallas. Allen moved seamlessly alongside the offensive line all through his profession, incomes Pro Bowl honors for his work at left sort out and guard throughout his tenure in Dallas. His work alongside the Cowboys’ offensive line made him one of many few gamers to ever be named to 2 NFL All-Decade groups, incomes the distinction within the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s.

4. Bob Lilly

White’s sturdy tenure dominating Dallas’ inside defensive position was preceded by Lilly’s Hall of Fame profession. Lilly was a Pro Bowler all however three seasons in his 14-year profession (1961-74), serving to the Cowboys emerge as one of many sport’s greatest groups in his first seasons as a corporation. After many seasons of competition, Lilly lastly broke by means of to the Super Bowl in 1971. He helped Dallas win Super Bowl VI, along with his 29-yard sack Miami Dolphins quarterback Brian Griese is seen as one of many sport’s key performs. Lilly had a minimum of eight (unofficial) sacks in 5 seasons, ending his profession with 95.5 sacks. Lily ended up changing into the primary participant ever inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.

3. Emmit Smith

Not solely is Smith arguably one of many biggest gamers in Cowboys historical past, however he’s additionally arguably the perfect working again in NFL historical past. Smith ranked first on FOX Sports’ checklist of prime 10 working backs, as no working again has ever rushed for extra yards (18,355) and touchdowns (164). His working means helped the Cowboys considerably within the Nineteen Nineties, serving to the staff win three Super Bowls and kind one of many sport’s greatest dynasties. His MVP win in 1993, the place he rushed for 1,486 yards and 9 touchdowns in 14 video games, can be the one MVP win in franchise historical past. That was considered one of 5 seasons during which he rushed for a minimum of 1,400 yards. He additionally gained Super Bowl MVP for his 132-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in opposition to the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

2. Troy Aikman

Aikman steered the ship to the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl victories within the Nineteen Nineties, because the quarterback of one of many sport’s most memorable offensive items. He could not have gained an MVP like Smith, however Aikman was an environment friendly passer for his time. He was named a Pro Bowler six instances, ending within the prime 10 in passer score six instances, prime 10 in yards per try six instances, and ending within the prime 10 in completion proportion eight instances in his profession. This effectivity was demonstrated in every of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl victories, finishing 70 p.c of his passes for a mean of 229.7 passing yards and a passer score of 111.9. He significantly confirmed off in Super Bowl XXVII, throwing for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns to win MVP within the win over the Bills.

1. Roger Staubach

Earning a number of nicknames akin to “Roger The Dodger” and “Captain America”, Roger Staubach’s greatness helped the Cowboys develop into the nation’s favourite staff. He led them to 4 Super Bowl appearances and gained two, most notably successful MVP in Super Bowl VI in 1971. Staubach’s 85 victories from 1969-79 are probably the most of any quarterback throughout that span, incomes him six Pro Bowl appearances and an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He can be the one quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mentions:

• Bob Hayes
• DeMarcus Ware
• Drew Pearson
• Charles Haley
• Chuck Howley
• Rayfield Wright
• Zack Martin

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