Dallas Cowboys: 30 greatest players in franchise history

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CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speaks about former teammate Bob Hayes Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

123. . Quarterback. (1969-1979). Roger Staubach. 1. player

In my eyes, Roger Staubach is the greatest player ever to don a Dallas Cowboys uniform. No one individual represents The Star the way Captain Comeback does, even today.

Obviously, those who grew up with Bob Lilly as their hero likely feel differently. And fans who never saw Roger the Dodger play, but grew up during the 1990’s probably feel passionately about one of the Triplets being in this coveted spot on the list.

But for me, no one beats Staubach. The Cowboys were perennially next year’s champions until Staubach came along. The former Heisman winner out of Navy was drafted in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL Draft. But due to his military commitments, Staubach couldn’t play for Dallas until five years later.

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At the age of 27, Staubach joined a Cowboys team with quarterback Craig Morton already under center. Morton took Dallas to Super Bowl V in 1970. The following year, Staubach would assume the starting role midseason, led the Cowboys to 10-straight victories and their first Super Bowl championship.

Staubach would lead the Cowboys to four Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s, winning two of them. Their dominance during that decade, and particularly the play of their gutsy quarterback, led to the moniker “America’s Team”.

The Hall of Fame quarterback has all the hardware you could ever want. On top of his two Super Bowl rings, Staubach was a six-time Pro Bowler, NFL Man of the Year, a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor, and named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1970s. And he did it all despite not joining the league until he was 27-years old.

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Roger Staubach simply is the Dallas Cowboys. That’s why he’s number one on this list and always will be. But that’s just my opinion. What’s yours? Tell us where we got it wrong and feel free to leave your list of the 30 greatest Dallas Cowboys of All-Time in the comment section below.

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