Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
America's Team has employed some fantastic offensive tackles over the years, and we've got one of the very best in club history here at No. 67. But as has been our custom throughout this series, before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's donned this particular digit for Dallas.
- Joe Berger, OT
- Phil Costa, G/C
- Pat Donovan, OT
- John Gesek, G/C
- Tony Hills, OT
- Brock Hoffman, C
- John Houser, OL
- Jake Kupp, G
- Russell Maryland, DT
- Everett McIver, G
- Nate Newton, G/T
- Joe Shearin, C
- Drew Shelton, OT
- Eric Smith, OL
- Sean Smith, DT
- Broderick Thompson, OT
- Pat Toomay, DE
- Gary Walker, C
- Rayfield Wright, OT/TE
The most decorated player on this list is Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright, who, like our selection, is one of the top OTs in Cowboys history.
But as the six-time Pro Bowler, who started his pro career at tight end wearing No. 85, only sported No. 67 for a single season in 1968 before switching to his more familiar No. 70, he was never genuinely considered for this slot.
The same can be said for Nate Newton, who also wore No. 67 for just a single season in his first year with the club in 1986 before switching to No. 61.
Newton's teammate during the 1990s Dallas dynasty, defensive tackle Russell Maryland, gets the runner-up slot here, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 was a key piece of a Cowboys defense that helped the team to three Super Bowl titles in four years.
But the clear call here is Pat Donovan.
"Dirty Dozen" draft class member Pat Donovan earned four Pro Bowl selections for the Dallas Cowboys
After an outstanding collegiate career at Stanford, where he earned back-to-back All-American selections in 1973 and 1974, Donovan was taken by Dallas in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL Draft with the 90th overall selection.
That '75 draft class as a whole, which came to be called the "Dirty Dozen," remains one of the best in team history, as it also included Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White, three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bob Breunig, two-time All-Pro guard Herbert Scott, and one-time Pro Bowl linebacker "Hollywood" Henderson.
Donovan, who played defensive end at Stanford, was transitioned to the offensive line just a few days into his first training camp with the Cowboys and spent his first two seasons in a reserve role before taking over as the starting right tackle in 1977, a season which resulted in Dallas hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the second time.
In 1978, the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder was moved to left tackle and ultimately became one of the top players at the position, earning four consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 1979 to 1982, also receiving a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 1981.
He retired following the 1983 season, having appeared in 129 regular-season games for the Cowboys and an additional 20 in the postseason, including six NFC Championship Games and three Super Bowls.
To this day, Donovan is one of only five players in franchise history to earn at least four Pro Bowl selections at the offensive tackle position, the four others being Tyron Smith (8), the aforementioned Rayfield Wright (6), Flozell Adams (5), and Erik Williams (4).
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
- No. 49: Was a solid pass blocker and special-teamer
- No. 50: Made an iconic quote about America's Team
- No. 51: Had a father who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw
- No. 52: Owns a little-known franchise record
- No. 53: Was part of the famed 'Dirty Dozen' draft
- No. 54: Owns a special piece of Super Bowl history
- No. 55: Has a special connection to Jerry Jones
- No. 56: Got stuck in between the Cowboys' two dynasties
- No. 57: Gets little credit for Super Bowl heroics
- No. 58: Was drafted under fascinating circumstances
- No. 59: Was a Bill Parcells (and fan) favorite
- No. 60: Played his final six seasons after being shot in the chest
- No. 61: One of the best undrafted players in NFL history
- No. 62: Helped bring back a forgotten formation
- No. 63: Doesn't get his 'Doomsday Defense' due
- No. 64: Is a member of a highly exclusive club
- No. 65: Is a forgotten five-time Pro Bowler
- No. 66: Stepped up when it mattered most
This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so please be sure to bookmark this page or check back in with The Landry Hat for updates.
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