Welcome back once again to The Landry Hat's series covering the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
The single digits, teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s are now officially in the books, and we're ready to roll with the next group, starting with one of the toughest decisions we've had to make in the entire series here at No. 70.
We've got a lot to get to, so let's jump into it by first looking at everyone who's worn No. 70 for America's Team over the years.
- Ethan Brooks, OT
- Javier Collins, OT
- Tyrone Crawford, DE
- Leonard Davis, G
- Dale Hellestrae, LS
- Frank Kearse, DT
- Jerome Long, DT
- Zack Martin, G
- Bob McCreary, OT
- Dale Memmelaar, G
- Drake Nevis, DT
- Howard Richards, G/OT
- Bill Sandeman, DT
- Mark Stepnoski, C
- Bob White, C/G
- Rayfield Wright, OT/TE
As you can see, there are several notable names on this list, including multi-time Pro Bowl center Mark Stepnoski, who sported No. 70 as a rookie in 1989 before switching to his more familiar No. 53 in 1990. In 1992, after wearing No. 62 in his first year with the club in '91, long snapper Dale Hellestrae switched to No. 70 and donned it for the next decade.
Also worth mentioning is guard Leonard Davis, who earned three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 2007 to 2009, also receiving a Second-Team All-Pro nod in '07.
At the end of the day, though, this was always going to be a two-man battle, and this is genuinely one of those instances in which we hate to have pick a winner. But as I started this series with one hard and fast rule that I would never have a tie, a choice has to be made.
As such, as much as it pains me to do so, and as much as it may upset some people, I've gotta give the runner-up slot to legendary right tackle Rayfield Wright, who was one of the top offensive linemen in the league during the Dallas dynasty of the 1970s.
Bouncing between several positions early in his career, playing tight end and defensive tackle in addition to his work on the O-line and also wearing Nos. 85 and 67 in his first two seasons in Dallas in 1967 and 1968, respectively, Wright switched to No. 70 in 1969 and then took over as the team's starting right tackle in 1970.
In the six-season stretch from 1971 to 1976, the 6-foot-6, 255-pounder earned six trips to the Pro Bowl and five total All-Pro selections (three First Team, two Second Team). He retired following the 1979 season having appeared in 166 regular-season games for Dallas and another 22 in the postseason, including the franchise's first two Super Bowl victories. Wright was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2004 and then into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
So, you can see why we didn't want to put him in the runner-up slot, right? But that's just how the game goes, as we're opting to give the top spot to Zack Martin, who may not have the rings that Wright does but has more First-Team All-Pro selections than any other offensive player in Cowboys history, which is obviously hard to ignore.
Zack Martin earned nine total All-Pro selections in his 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys
Following a stellar collegiate career as a left offensive tackle at Notre Dame, Martin was taken by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 16th overall selection.
Dallas had drafted the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder with the intention of moving him to right tackle, and he wasted no time becoming one of the best right tackles in football, not only earning All-Rookie Team honors but also receiving his first Pro Bowl selection and a First-Team All-Pro nod, as well as a second-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, losing out only to New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr.
And the accolades just kept coming and coming and coming.
In 11 seasons with the Cowboys, Martin earned nine trips to the Pro Bowl, seven First-Team All-Pro selections, and two Second-Team All-Pro nods. The only two seasons in which he didn't receive a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection were in 2020, when he missed six games with a calf injury, and his final year with the club in 2024, when he again appeared in only 10 games and saw his season, and his career as it turned out, come to an end due to an ankle injury.
As mentioned, Martin's seven First-Team All-Pro selections are the most of any offensive player in Cowboys history and are good for a tie for the most in team history, with defensive legends Bob Lilly and Randy White also earning seven apiece.
So, you can see why we went in this direction. Again, Martin may not have won the rings that Wright did, but there's no question that he'll be enshrined alongside Wright in Canton when he becomes eligible in 2030.
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
- No. 67: Belongs to an exclusive O-line club
- No. 68: Allowed the team to trade an all-time great
- No. 69: Was the largest player in his draft class
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