Welcome back to our series covering the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
Several members of the famed "Doomsday II" defense have been featured in the 50s thus far, but here at No. 55, we've got a member of the original version that helped the Cowboys turn from a simple expansion team into one of the most dominant franchises in the league.
But before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's donned the double-nickel for America's Team over the years.
- Alex Albright, LB
- Jack Del Rio, LB
- Steve DeOssie, LB
- Harry Flaherty, LB
- Ryan Fowler, LB
- Lemanski Hall, LB
- Bruce Huther, LB
- Edgar Jones, DE
- Robert Jones, LB
- Lee Roy Jordan, LB
- Carl Lawson, DE
- Rolando McClain, LB
- Stephen Paea, DT
- Danny Spradlin, LB
- Markus Steele, LB
- Fred Strickland, LB
- Zach Thomas, LB
- Leighton Vander Esch, LB
- Logan Wilson, LB
Linebacker Zach Thomas is the only member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the list, but as he only played one season in Dallas to close out his career after spending a dozen years with the Miami Dolphins, he's obviously not our call, nor is he the runner-up, as that honor goes to Leighton Vander Esch, who tallied 469 total tackles during his six-season run with the Cowboys from 2018 to 2023.
But the easy choice here is Lee Roy Jordan.
Lee Roy Jordan manned the middle of the Dallas Cowboys' original "Doomsday Defense"
After a stellar collegiate career at the University of Alabama, where he twice earned All-SEC honors and was named a unanimous All-American in his final year with the team in 1962, Jordan was taken by Dallas in the first round of the 1963 NFL Draft with the sixth overall selection. He'd also been taken 14th overall in the 1963 AFL Draft by the New England Patriots but opted to sign with the Cowboys.
Jordan began his career playing weakside linebacker and was actually the first rookie linebacker in Dallas history to start a season opener. He moved to middle linebacker in 1965, and while he was one of the smallest players in the league at the position at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he unquestionably made up for it by being one of the most ferocious players at the position.
Not only was Jordan a strong tackler, tallying 743 solo tackles during his 14-year career, which remain the most in club history, but he was also a bit of a ballhawk, ultimately racking up 32 interceptions, which are still good for a tie for the seventh-most among all Dallas defenders.
And that doesn't include the four picks he made in the playoffs, two of which came during the Cowboys' run to their first Super Bowl title to close out the 1971 season, as he had one in the Divisional Round against the Minnesota Vikings and another in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Jordan retired following the 1976 season having appeared in five NFC title games and three Super Bowls. While he's never been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, coming closest in 1988, he did become just the seventh member of the famed Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1989. And he's kind of a special selection, as he was the first player chosen by Jerry Jones for induction.
Other Dallas Cowboys jersey honorees
- No. 0: Well, there's literally only one option here
- No. 1: Quietly one of Dallas' better special teams weapons
- No. 2: He once stood alone in the record books
- No. 3: This player needed just one season to make his mark
- No. 4: This is a no-brainer
- No. 5: This player has the third-most points in Cowboys history
- No. 6: The winner here just edged out a Pro Bowl history maker
- No. 7: Fizzled fast after his big payday
- No. 8: Member of an elite Super Bowl club
- No. 9: Doesn't get the credit he deserves
- No. 10: Also played professional basketball
- No. 11: No, it's not Micah Parsons
- No. 12: Didn't begin his Hall of Fame career until age 27
- No. 13: Was a solid WR2 (until he wasn't)
- No. 14: Led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance
- No. 15: Won multiple titles in another sport
- No. 16: Helped a legend score his first NFL TD
- No. 17: The Cowboys' first true franchise QB
- No. 18: Still holds a team record after 30-plus years
- No. 19: Might surprise some people
- No. 20: The Cowboys' all-time interceptions leader
- No. 21: This player was always 'Prime Time' entertainment
- No. 22: The only NFL MVP in Cowboys history
- No. 23: Was a key role player for Tom Landry
- No. 24: It's not the one who won Super Bowl MVP
- No. 25: Holds a unique place in Cowboys history
- No. 26: Didn't play one down of college football
- No. 27: Held a Cowboys record for nearly 50 years
- No. 28: Holds an odd team record
- No. 29: Was allowed to walk after a historic season
- No. 30: Holds a sad NFL record as a head coach
- No. 31: Got a play banned from the NFL
- No. 32: Was also an actual cowboy
- No. 33: Holds an NFL record that can't be broken
- No. 34: Was drafted into the NBA (but not the NFL)
- No. 35: Has a son who's an NBA Hall of Famer
- No. 36: Was a strong special-teamer (when healthy)
- No. 37: Showed out in the Super Bowl (twice)
- No. 38: Had a solid career after going undrafted
- No. 39: Was on the wrong end of a famous play
- No. 40: Forced the NFL to change the Pro Bowl
- No. 41: Owns an impressive NFL playoff record
- No. 42: Went from undrafted to a defensive captain
- No. 43: The true anchor of the 1970s Dallas defense
- No. 44: Wasn't the typical NFL fullback
- No. 45: Lost his job to a future Super Bowl MVP
- No. 46: Was on the wrong side of Super Bowl history
- No. 47: Was an HBCU star before a 7-year NFL career
- No. 48: Was beloved despite not posting big numbers
- No. 49: Was a solid pass blocker and special-teamer
- No. 50: Made an iconic quote about America's Team
- No. 51: Had a father who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw
- No. 52: Owns a little-known franchise record
- No. 53: Was part of the famed 'Dirty Dozen' draft
- No. 54: Owns a special piece of Super Bowl history
This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so please be sure to check back in with The Landry Hat for updates.
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