Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
We've seen a litany of legends here in the 80s, and we're just a couple of entries away from having to choose from several more when we get to No. 88.
But we've obviously got some business to tend to first here at No. 86, and while we can't categorize our selection for this spot as a legend, what we can say is that we've got a player who made meaningful contributions in the later years of the Dallas dynasty of the 1970s.
But before we break all of that down, let's first have a quick look at everyone who's worn No. 86 for America's Team over the years.
- Eric Bjornson, TE
- Dan Campbell, TE
- Scott Chandler, TE
- Ralph Coleman, LB
- James Dixon, WR/RB
- Kenny Duckett, WR
- Ryan Hannam, TE
- Duriel Harris, WR
- Bill Houston, WR
- Butch Johnson, WR
- Mike Lucky, TE
- Garry Porterfield, DE
- Luke Schoonmaker, TE
- Dalton Schultz, TE
- Dave Sherer, E
- Mike Sherrard, WR
- Waddell Smith, WR
- Isaiah Stanback, WR
- Tyrone Williams, WR
With all due respect to those who've donned this digit, this certainly isn't the strongest list we've seen in the series, as evidenced by the fact that the easy call for the runner-up slot here is tight end Dalton Schultz, who spent five seasons in Dallas from 2018 to 2022, catching 211 passes for 2,122 yards and 17 touchdowns in 75 regular-season appearances, while adding another 20 grabs for 231 yards and three scores in five playoff outings.
Schultz had a solid run, but the clear-cut choice here is Butch Johnson.
Butch Johnson was a solid backup WR and remains in the top 10 in Dallas Cowboys history in both punt and kick return yards
After a solid collegiate career at UC Riverside, where he earned Division II All-American honors, Johnson was taken by Dallas in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft with the 87th overall selection.
He didn't make much of an impact as a wide receiver as a rookie, catching just five passes for 84 yards with two touchdowns, but he did contribute nicely as a returner, tallying 489 yards on punt returns and another 693 yards on kickoffs.
The Los Angeles native continued to excel on special teams in his second season, recording another 959 combined return yards, and he did get a few more opportunities as a receiver, catching a dozen passes during the regular season for 135 yards and a touchdown.
But his biggest contribution and easily the most famous moment of his career came in the Cowboys' Super Bowl 12 victory over the Denver Broncos, where he made a diving catch for a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give Dallas a commanding 20-3 advantage.
Johnson spent one more season returning kicks, but despite doing so for just three seasons, his 1,313 punt-return yards remain the second-most in franchise history, trailing only the 1,803 compiled by Kelvin Martin. His 1,832 kickoff-return yards are also good for 10th in team history.
That third season also brought a little history, as he caught a touchdown pass in the Cowboys' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, thus making him just the second player to find the end zone in back-to-back Super Bowls.
Johnson, whose "California Quake" touchdown celebration became quite famous and was actually one of the reasons the NFL banned rehearsed celebrations, eventually got more opportunities as a receiver, and when his eight-year run in Dallas came to a close after the 1983 season, he'd amassed 132 receptions for 2,124 yards with 19 touchdowns.
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
- No. 55: Has a special connection to Jerry Jones
- No. 56: Got stuck in between the Cowboys' two dynasties
- No. 57: Gets little credit for Super Bowl heroics
- No. 58: Was drafted under fascinating circumstances
- No. 59: Was a Bill Parcells (and fan) favorite
- No. 60: Played his final six seasons after being shot in the chest
- No. 61: One of the best undrafted players in NFL history
- No. 62: Helped bring back a forgotten formation
- No. 63: Doesn't get his 'Doomsday Defense' due
- No. 64: Is a member of a highly exclusive club
- No. 65: Is a forgotten five-time Pro Bowler
- No. 66: Stepped up when it mattered most
- No. 67: Belongs to an exclusive O-line club
- No. 68: Allowed the team to trade an all-time great
- No. 69: Was the largest player in his draft class
- No. 70: Will soon join the second-best in Canton
- No. 71: Went to high school with Barack Obama
- No. 72: Had the most appropriate nickname ever
- No. 73: The strongest player in NFL history
- No. 74: Was the first member of the Ring of Honor
- No. 75: Was consistently robbed of accolades
- No. 76: Highest offensive line draftee in Cowboys history
- No. 77: Has a historic connection to Jerry Jones
- No. 78: Isn't remembered for his Super Bowl heroics
- No. 79: Holds a unique piece of Super Bowl history
- No. 80: Helped America's Team make history
- No. 81: Was hated before coming to America's Team
- No. 82: Owns an absurd amount of franchise records
- No. 83: Was with Bill Parcells on two teams
- No. 84: The overlooked star of the 1990s dynasty
- No. 85: Was the lone member of an elite club for decades
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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