Welcome back to The Landry Hat's 100-part series on the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 all the way up to No. 99.
We're at roughly the one-third portion of our journey, and we've got one of the biggest legends in the storied history of America's Team here at No. 33. And given that legendary status, there's really no need to build any suspense here at the start, as most of you likely already know that the clear-cut call here is running back Tony Dorsett.
Still, though, as we've got our process that we like to run with every number, let's also have a quick look at everyone who's donned the digit for Dallas over the years.
- Chidobe Awuzie, CB
- Gene Babb, FB/LB
- Jason Bell, DB
- Eric Brown, DB
- Deante Burton, WR
- Damone Clark, LB
- Tony Dorsett, RB
- Wendell Hayes, RB
- Nate Jones, DB
- Cyril Pinder, RB
- Timmy Smith, RB
- Duane Thomas, RB
- Russell Wayt, LB
- Javonte Williams, RB
Before we get to Dorsett, it's worth noting that Duane Thomas seemed to be well on his way to becoming a Cowboys legend, as he burst onto the scene in 1970 and helped Dallas to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, tallying 1,822 total yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in his first two seasons.
And in that second Super Bowl, which resulted in the team's first title, he racked up 112 total yards and a touchdown. But that turned out to be his last game in Dallas, as he had some issues with the organization that led to him being traded.
But enough delaying, as it's time to get to Tony.
Tony Dorsett was an absolute menace for the Dallas Cowboys
A four-time All-American and the 1976 Heisman Trophy winner at Pitt, who he led to a national title in that same '76 season, Dorsett was taken by Dallas in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft with the second overall selection after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opted for USC running back Ricky Bell with the top pick.
Coming off of an 11-3 campaign, the Cowboys were actually supposed to pick 14th that year, but they traded that selection and three others to the Seattle Seahawks in order to jump up to draft Dorsett, and the move paid immediate dividends, as the Pennsylvania native rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns and added another 273 yards and a score on 29 receptions en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
And in the three playoff games that ultimately led to the team's second Lombardi Trophy, he rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns, the last score of which was the opening TD of the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 12.
And he was literally off and running from there.
In the first nine years of his career, Dorsett only failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark once. And the only reason that happened was because the 1982 season was shortened to nine games. A season earlier, in 1981, he tallied a career-high 1,646 yards on the ground, which set a new franchise record and still stands as the fourth-best single season in franchise history.
But getting back to that strike-shortened '82 campaign, he set an NFL record that can literally never be broken. In the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings at the old Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Dorsett broke loose for a 99-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, thus setting new marks for the longest run from scrimmage and the longest touchdown run of all time.
What's wild is that the Cowboys only had 10 players on the field at the time, as fullback Ron Springs, who was actually the one who was supposed to run the ball, had mistakenly run off the field. Derrick Henry matched Dorsett's record in 2018 with a 99-yard touchdown run for the Tennessee Titans, but again, as a 100-yard run from scrimmage obviously isn't possible, Dorsett's name will be in the record books forever.
His role diminished a bit when Herschel Walker was brought to Dallas in 1986, and after the worst season of his career in 1987, Dorsett requested a trade, which was granted, and he closed his career playing one season for Dan Reeves and the Denver Broncos.
In his 11 years with Dallas, Dorsett rushed for 12,036 yards and 72 touchdowns, both of which remain good for second in franchise history behind only Emmitt Smith's 17,162 yards and 153 scores on the ground. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and joined the Cowboys Ring of Honor that same year.
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
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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