Welcome back to The Landry Hat's 100-part series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
With the single digits and teens now behind us, we're ready to roll into the next set of numbers, and we've got a very special entry to kick off the 20s. So, without further ado, let's have a quick look at every player to wear No. 20 for America's Team over the years.
- Richie Anderson, FB
- Alan Ball, DB
- Bob Bercich, DB
- Ibraheim Campbell, S
- Michael Coe, DB
- Dalvin Cook, RB
- Kaiir Elam, CB
- Ray Horton, DB
- Jason Kaiser, DB
- Bruce Livingston, DB
- Darren McFadden, RB
- Jerry Overton, DB
- Tyler Patmon, CB
- Willie Pile, DB
- Tony Pollard, RB
- Mel Renfro, DB
- Derek Ross, DB
- Phillippi Sparks, DB
- Ron Springs, FB
- Darian Thompson, S
- B.W. Webb, CB
- Sherman Williams, RB
As you can see, there are plenty of solid players on this list.
Fullback Ron Springs was one of the top players at his position in the early 1980s and set several franchise receiving records for backs. Safety Ray Horton was a solid contributor for the Cowboys' first title-winning team in the early 1990s. And running backs Darren McFadden and Tony Pollard combined for three 1,000-yard seasons, with Pollard earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2022.
But this is one of those no-brainer entries, as the clear-cut call here is Hall of Fame defensive back Mel Renfro, who will forever be one of the greatest defensive players in Dallas history.
Mel Renfro is the Dallas Cowboys' all-time interceptions leader
A two-way player at the University of Oregon, playing both defensive back and halfback, Renfro was a two-time All-American (he was also an All-American track star) before the Cowboys took him in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft with the 17th overall selection.
Landry opted not to utilize him as a running back but did start him at safety as a rookie, and the move paid off, as the Houston native led the team with seven interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, ultimately earning a trip to the Pro Bowl and a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
Landry also used him as a return man, and that paid off as well, as Renfro led the NFL in both punt return yards (418) and kickoff return yards (1,017). He only served in that role for a few more seasons, but he certainly didn't slow down on the defensive side of things.
Renfro ultimately earned Pro Bowl selections for the first 10 years of his 14-year career, also earning four Second-Team All-Pro nods during that stretch. His best year came in 1969, a season during which he tallied a career-high 10 interceptions, which stood as a franchise record until Everson Walls recorded 11 in 1981, a number matched by Trevon Diggs in 2021.
Renfro does remain the Cowboys' all-time leader in interceptions, however, as he ended his career with 52, three of which he returned for touchdowns. In total, he scored six TDs, with one coming on a punt return and two on kickoff returns. He played in eight NFL/NFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls, winning two of them, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Naturally, Renfro is also a member of the Cowboys' famed Ring of Honor and is easily the greatest player in Dallas history to don No. 20.
More 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
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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