Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
Well, we've come to the end of the 80s, and while we're well aware that it's going to be tough to follow the legendary No. 88, we've obviously got to keep rolling, as we inch ever closer to the end of our journey.
As such, let's go ahead and get things rolling by looking at every player who's worn No. 89 for America's Team over the years.
- Robert Awalt, TE
- Kelly Blackwell, TE
- Thornton Chandler, TE
- Tony Curtis, TE
- Donnie Davis, WR
- Mike Ditka, TE
- Fred Dugan, E
- Billy Joe DuPree, TE
- Gavin Escobar, TE
- Scott Galbraith, TE
- Peyton Hendershot, TE
- Blake Jarwin, TE
- David LaFleur, TE
- John Phillips, TE
- Jim Price, TE
- Brian Salonen, TE/LB
- Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE
- Derek Tennell, TE
- Derek Ware, TE
- Randal Williams, WR
Now, from an overall standpoint, the best player on this list is legendary tight end who then became a legendary head coach, that being Mike Ditka.
Long before he led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory in 1985 on the sidelines, Ditka was a terrific tight end for the Monsters of the Midway, earning five trips to the Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections during his six-season run in the Windy City from 1961 to 1966.
After two years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Ditka spent the final four years of his playing career in Dallas, catching 72 passes for 924 yards and five touchdowns and helping the team to its first championship.
So, with that limited run in Big D, Ditka doesn't get the nod here. Instead, the honor goes to another tight end, Billy Joe DuPree.
Billy Joe DuPree held the record for the most TDs by a Dallas Cowboys tight end for nearly three decades
A back-to-back All-Big Ten selection in 1971 and 1972 and a Second-Team All-American in 1972 at Michigan State, DuPree was taken by Dallas in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft with the 20th overall selection.
While Ditka had retired as a player, he remained with the Cowboys as an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. And clearly seeing the potential DuPree had, he gifted his No. 89 to the rookie, which had to feel good for the Louisiana native.
Tom Landry clearly saw the potential as well, because while he didn't often start rookies, DuPree started all 14 games for Dallas in his first season, catching 29 passes for 392 yards with five touchdowns.
After a solid second season, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder suffered some injuries in 1975 that caused him to lose his starting spot to Jean Fugett.
But when Fugett left the team in free agency ahead of the 1976 campaign, DuPree slid back into the starting lineup and promptly embarked upon the best stretch of his career, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1976 to 1978, with the middle season resulting in the team's second championship.
And in that Super Bowl 12 victory over the Denver Broncos, he led all players with 66 receiving yards on four receptions.
DuPree ultimately spent 11 seasons with the Cowboys, retiring after the 1983 season having tallied 267 receptions for 3,565 yards with 41 touchdowns in 159 regular-season games and another 39 catches for 447 yards and four scores in 22 postseason appearances.
Those 41 regular-season touchdowns stood as the most by a Dallas tight end for nearly three decades until Jason Witten set the new mark in 2012.
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
- No. 86: Made a little Super Bowl history
- No. 87: Is still wearing it
- No. 88: Was Tom Landry's last first-round draft pick
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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