Best Dallas Cowboys player to wear No. 42 went from undrafted to defensive captain

Welcome once again to our series covering the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.

After highlighting a couple of Cowboys legends to kick off the 40s, we don't quite have that here at No. 42, but what we do have is a player who gave everything he had every second he was on the field and worked his way up the depth chart to become a solid starter for America's Team for several seasons.

But before we break all that down, let's first have a look at everyone who's worn No. 42 for the Cowboys over the years.

Anthony Barr, LB
Barry Church, S
Darryl Clack, RB
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Ricky Easmon, DB
Troy Hambrick, RB
Anthony Henry, CB
Randy Hughes, DB
Don McIlhenny, HB
Keanu Neal, S/LB
Jimmy Ridlon, DB
Stan Smagala, DB
Deuce Vaughn, RB
Chris Warren, RB
Claxton Welch, RB
A.D. Whitfield, RB
Charlie Williams, DB
Robert Wilson, RB

The most recognizable name on this list from an overall standpoint would probably have to be running back Chris Warren.

But as he made his name with the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he earned three trips to the Pro Bowl and two Second-Team All-Pro selections, he's not the call here, as he rushed for just 948 yards over the course of three seasons in Dallas at the end of his career.

The choice here was always going to be a defensive back, and while we took a look at Randy Hughes, who was a strong contributor in the 1970s, and cornerback Anthony Henry, who recorded a dozen interceptions for Dallas from 2005 to 2008, we opted to roll with Barry Church.

Barry Church went from undrafted to defensive captain in just a few short seasons

Despite earning First-Team All-MAC honors in each of his four seasons at Toledo from 2006 to 2009, also getting to the semifinal round for the coveted Jim Thorpe Award as a senior, Church went unselected in the 2010 NFL Draft but signed with Dallas as undrafted free agent.

After starting just one game in his first two seasons and making just 48 total tackles, many of those on special teams, the Pittsburgh native worked his way into the starting lineup in 2012 but quickly saw that campaign come to an end after suffering a torn Achilles in Week 3.

Despite the injury, the Cowboys gave Church a new contract, and upon his return in 2013, he promptly proved they had made the right decision, leading the team with 135 total tackles, recording his first interception, and scoring the first and only touchdown of his career off a fumble recovery.

So impressive was Church that Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett named him as a defensive captain ahead of the 2014 season, a role in which he remained until he left during the 2017 offseason to sign a lucrative contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, with whom he spent two seasons to close out his career.

Church was never the most athletic player on the field, but as stated earlier, he gave everything he had on every snap, both on defense and special teams, and in his seven seasons with the Cowboys, he tallied 488 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, 16 passes defended, and five interceptions.

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.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Barry Church went from undrafted to defensive captain in just a few short seasons

Other Dallas Cowboys jersey honorees

Schedule