Dallas Cowboys: 30 greatest players in franchise history
123. . Safety. (1970-1981). Charlie Waters. 24. player
Combined with safety Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters made up one of the top defensive duos in Dallas Cowboys’ history. Selected in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft, Waters had played both quarterback and wide receiver at Clemson.
But Dallas wasn’t interested in Waters as a wideout. Instead, they valued his versatility as an athlete. Waters started his career with the Cowboys as a backup safety behind undrafted rookie Cliff Harris his first year. He ended up starting in six games due to Harris having to fulfill his military service, and ended up recording five interceptions and being named the NFL All-Rookie Team.
That season, the Cowboys would end up going to the Super Bowl, only to lose to the Baltimore Colts. For the next four years, Dallas played Waters at cornerback with mixed results. In 1975, he was shifted back to safety to replace a retiring Cornell Green.
Finally back at safety, Waters would shine. He would be nominated to three Pro Bowls and named a second-team All-Pro twice.
By the end of his 12-year career, Waters had been to five Super Bowls, winning twice. He never once experienced a losing season while in Dallas, making the postseason every year but one. Waters is currently tied for first with the most career interceptions during the playoffs with nine. And he’s third on the Cowboys’ all-time interceptions ranking with 41 picks.