Welcome back to The Landry Hat's series covering the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
With the single digits, teens, 20s, and 30s now in the rearview, it's time to keep moving forward with a new group, and we've got one of the most beloved players in the storied history of America's Team to kick things off here at No. 40.
But before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's donned the digit for Dallas over the years.
- Bill Bates, DB
- Bobby Joe Conrad, WR
- Keith Davis, DB
- Jimmy Harris, DB
- Eric Hurt, DB
- Hunter Luepke, FB
- Danny McCray, DB
- Steven Parker, DB
- Jim Stiger, HB
- Les Strayhorn, RB
- Nahshon Wright, CB
As you can see, this isn't a large group, and with all due respect, there really isn't a genuine standout here outside of our selection. As such, let's not waste anymore time and get right into the legend that is the great Bill Bates.
Dallas Cowboys legend Bill Bates basically forced the NFL into adding a special teams spot to the Pro Bowl roster
Despite being Second-Team All-SEC selection in both 1981 and 1982 at Tennessee, where he excelled as both a safety and a special teams player, Bates went undrafted in 1983 after a disappointing showing at the combine.
He was taken in that year's USFL Territorial Draft by the New Jersey Generals, but he instead opted to sign with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, which certainly turned out to be the right move.
While the Knoxville native only got a single start at safety during the regular season, he racked up 4.0 sacks, which is a nice number for a defensive back (even now), and he added another during the Cowboys' playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, which he also started.
But he truly made a name for himself on special teams, and that's how he got himself voted onto the All-Rookie Team, as the NFL Alumni Association named him the league's Special Teams Player of the Year, an honor he earned again in 1984.
And that '84 season was so impressive that it basically forced the NFL into adding a special teams spot to each Pro Bowl roster, with Bates being the first ever to represent the NFC in that capacity and Fredd Young of the Seattle Seahawks being the first to represent the AFC. Yes, younger readers, the Seahawks were once in the AFC, but I digress.
Now, while impressive on special teams in 1984, Bates was just as solid on defense, as his 5.0 sacks were the most by any defensive back in Dallas history.
He ended up being the regular starter at strong safety from 1986 to 1988, but things changed when Jimmy Johnson came to town in 1989, and while he never started at safety from that point on, he continued to be one of the hardest-hitting and most well-respected special-teamers of all time.
After helping the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in four years, Bates retired following the 1997 season, having appeared in 217 regular-season games for Dallas over the course of his 15-year career and another 14 in the postseason.
In those 15 years, he tallied 676 total tackles (he remains the team's all-time leader in special teams tackles), 18.0 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 14 interceptions.
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)
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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