Best Dallas Cowboys player to wear No. 36 was a strong special-teamer (when healthy)

Welcome back to our 100-part series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.

We've had some notable entries here in the 30s, as this group has included some of the most notable names in the storied history of America's Team, but with all due respect to those who have worn No. 36, this entry simply can't be described the same way.

Nevertheless, we've still got a job to do, so let's have a look at every player who's donned the digit for Dallas over the years.

Vince Albritton, DB
Mackensie Alexander, LB
Corey Ballentine, CB
Darian Barnes, FB
Dick Bielski, TE
Larry Brinson, RB
Kyron Brown, DB
Quincy Butler, DB
Michael Hamlin, DB
Sheldrick Redwine, DB
Dominique Ross, RB
Andrew Sendejo, DB
Mana Silva, DB
Tony Taylor, RB
Joe Williams, RB

Had Dick Bielski been with the Cowboys longer than only two years, he might be our pick here, as he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in his second season with the club in 1961, which was also just the second season in franchise history.

As a tight end, he set career highs across the board with 26 receptions for 377 yards and three touchdowns, and he also took over kicking duties toward the end of the year, connecting on 25 of 28 extra-point attempts but only 11 of 25 field goals. But as he was traded after that season, with Dallas wanting more defense, Bielski only gets the runner-up title here.

As such, our winner is Vince Albrittion, who wore No. 36 for the entirety of his eight-year run with the Cowboys.

Vince Albritton was named the Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Player of the Year in 1987

A Second-Team All-Pac-10 selection at the University of Washington in 1983, Albritton went unselected in the 1984 NFL Draft but did go in the 16th round of the 1984 USFL Draft to the Philadelphia Stars. But after the Cowboys offered to bring him in as an undrafted free agent, he opted to take the NFL route and got himself a solid little career out of that decision.

Despite playing mostly strong safety at the collegiate level, he spent the majority of his rookie season playing linebacker, while also lining up on special teams. While he didn't make a single start in 1984, he at least appeared in all 16 regular-season games, which he did only three times during his career, as he simply had a problem staying healthy.

Albritton shifted back to safety in 1986, but it was on special teams where he was typically at his best, and in 1987, he was even named the Cowboys' Special Teams Player of the Year. He did manage to beat out Bill Bates for the starting spot at strong safety in 1989, which was one of the seasons he was able to stay healthy enough to play every game, but injuries limited him to just 14 games over the next two years, and he was ultimately released ahead of the 1992 season, thus ending his career.

Despite the injury issues, Albritton appeared in 86 games during his eight-year career, starting seven of them. So, we'll at least give him some credit for sticking around as long as he did, as that doesn't happen for every player, especially those as injury-prone as he was.

Other Dallas Cowboys jersey honorees

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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Vince Albritton was named the Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Player of the Year in 1987

Other Dallas Cowboys jersey honorees

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