Welcome once again to The Landry Hat's series on the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
With the first half of our journey officially in the rearview, we're ready to kick off the second half, and we've certainly got a tough decision to make here at No. 50. But before we reveal our selection, let's first have a look at everyone who's worn the number for America's Team over the years.
- Bobby Abrams, LB
- Akin Ayodele, LB
- Jamal Brooks, LB
- Darrick Brownlow, LB
- Scott Fujita, LB
- Dave Harper, LB
- Devin Harper, LB
- Steve Hendrickson, LB
- Shemar James, LB
- Eric Kendricks, LB
- Sean Lee, LB
- D.D. Lewis, LB
- Justin Rogers, LB
- Jeff Rohrer, LB
- Clay Shiver, C
- Jerry Tubbs, LB
Our decision ultimately came down to three players, all of whom were linebackers.
First, we've got Jerry Tubbs, who was with the team in its very first season in 1960 and was one of the first players in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl, earning the honor in 1962. Tubbs was with the Cowboys for the entirety of the Tom Landry era, first as solely a player from 1960 to 1964, then as a player-coach in 1965 and 1966, and then as the full-time linebackers coach from 1967 to 1988.
And then, of course, there's Sean Lee, who, when healthy, was one of the top players at his position. Truth be told, had injuries not been an issue as often as they were, the one-time First-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler would likely be our pick here.
Instead, that honor goes to D.D. Lewis, who never quite got the credit he deserved for his contributions to the Dallas defense during the 1970s (and into the 1980s) and is responsible for one of the most famous quotes in franchise history.
D.D. Lewis has appeared in more playoff games than any player in Dallas Cowboys history
While Lewis was a two-time First-Team All-SEC selection, a two-time All-American, and the 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Mississippi State, NFL teams were worried that the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder was too small to be an impactful player at the professional level.
As such, he fell to the sixth round in the 1968 draft, where Dallas picked him up with the 159th overall selection.
As the Cowboys were loaded at linebacker, Lewis spent his first few seasons in a reserve role for the original "Doomsday Defense" that helped Dallas to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1970 and 1971, with the latter resulting in the team's first title.
The Tennessee native finally cracked the starting lineup on a full-time basis at inside linebacker in 1973 following the retirement of Chuck Howley and started every game but two for the Cowboys until his own retirement following the 1981 campaign.
While several other players of the vaunted "Doomsday II" unit that helped the Cowboys to three more Super Bowl appearances and a second title in the '70s received far more recognition, Lewis was an extremely important piece of that puzzle, so much so that after Tom Landry retired, he called Lewis the most underappreciated player he had in his 29 seasons. So, that's obviously high praise.
The simple stats for Lewis aren't mind-blowing, but he still tallied 15.5 sacks and eight interceptions during the regular season for his career and added another 1.5 sacks and four interceptions in the postseason, with two of those picks coming in the 1975 NFC Championship Game victory that helped the Cowboys become the first wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl.
And speaking of the postseason, Lewis' 27 playoff games are the most for any player in Cowboys history and good for a tie with Peyton Manning for the fifth-most of any player in NFL history, trailing only Tom Brady (48), Adam Vinatieri (32), Jerry Rice (29), and Stephen Gostkowski (29).
And let's not forget about that famous quote we mentioned earlier. In 1982, not long after his retirement, Lewis was the one who said, "Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof, so God can watch His favorite team play."
So, come on, how was Lewis not supposed to be our selection in this slot?
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)
- No. 37: Showed out in the Super Bowl (twice)
- No. 38: Had a solid career after going undrafted
- No. 39: Was on the wrong end of a famous play
- No. 40: Forced the NFL to change the Pro Bowl
- No. 41: Owns an impressive NFL playoff record
- No. 42: Went from undrafted to a defensive captain
- No. 43: The true anchor of the 1970s Dallas defense
- No. 44: Wasn't the typical NFL fullback
- No. 45: Lost his job to a future Super Bowl MVP
- No. 46: Was on the wrong side of Super Bowl history
- No. 47: Was an HBCU star before a 7-year NFL career
- No. 48: Was beloved despite not posting big numbers
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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