Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
In our previous entry at No. 70, we had to make one of our toughest decisions of the entire series, as we were forced to choose between Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright and future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. But here at No. 71, there is no decision to make, as this one's a no-brainer.
But before we break things down, let's first run through our usual process of looking at everyone who's worn No. 71 for America's Team over the years.
- Alex Barron, OT
- Everette Brown, DE
- La'el Collins, OT
- Paul Dickson, OT
- Mike Dwyer, DT
- Chuma Edoga, G
- Andy Frederick, OT
- Charley Granger, OT
- Donald Hawkins, G
- Alcender Jackson, G
- Nate Livings, G
- Jason Peters, OT
- Cory Procter, G
- Don Talbert, OT
- Nathan Thomas, OT
- Willie Townes, DE
- Mark Tuinei, OT/C/DE
- Matt Waletzko, OT
- Rodney Wallace, T/G
- Tyson Walter, C/G
Now, the most decorated player on this list from an overall standpoint is nine-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champ Jason Peters. But as he only played the penultimate season of his 20-year career in Dallas, appearing in a dozen games in 2022 and starting just one of them, he's obviously not the call here.
The choice for the runner-up slot was an easy call as well, as that honor goes to La'el Collins, who started 74 of the 77 games in which he appeared for Dallas between the regular season and postseason from 2015 to 2021.
But the easy choice for this slot at No. 71 goes to Mark Tuinei.
Mark Tuinei played high school basketball with Barack Obama ahead of his 15-year career with the Dallas Cowboys
While Tuinei was born in Oceanside, California, he was raised in Nānākuli, Hawaii, and spent his prep years at Punahou School in Honolulu, where he was a three-sport superstar.
As a football player, he was named the Hawaii Prep Lineman of the Year as a senior. As a member of the track and field team, he won a state title in shot put.
And he was also an All-Star basketball player, and while we know this is a football article, it's his run with the basketball team that's the most fascinating, as one of his teammates on that squad was none other than a future president of the United States, Barack Obama. So, be sure to throw that into your next Cowboys trivia night.
Tuinei began his collegiate career back in California at UCLA, but left the Bruins after his sophomore season after a fight on campus put his future with the program in jeopardy.
He actually spent some time in jail due to the incident, and while he transferred to the University of Hawaii for his junior season, he was forced to sit out the year on suspension. He did suit up for his senior season, but he was limited to just seven games due to various injuries.
Tuinei went unselected in the 1983 NFL Draft but was taken in the 19th round of the 1983 USFL Draft by the Boston Breakers. But as he was offered a contract from the Cowboys as undrafted free agent, he opted to head to Dallas.
He'd played defensive tackle in college, and that's where he spent the first two seasons of his NFL career before transitioning to the offensive line in 1985, serving as the team's backup center. While Tuinei failed to start a single game his first three years, he started 11 games in 1986, some on offense and some on defense due to injuries to other players.
Tuinei eventually settled in as the team's starting left offensive tackle and went on to spend more than a decade in that role.
The Cowboys obviously became one of the best teams in the league as his career progressed, winning three Super Bowls in the four-season stretch from 1992 to 1995, and the offensive line was one of the big reasons why, as Tuinei & Co. opened bus-size holes for Emmitt Smith and gave Troy Aikman plenty of time to get the ball to Michael Irvin and others in the passing game.
And what's wild is that Tuinei only got better as he got older, receiving his first Pro Bowl selection in the 12th year of his career in 1994 and following up with a second in 1995. He retired following the 1997 campaign having appeared in 212 total games for Dallas between the regular season and postseason, starting 162 of them.
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
- No. 70: Will soon join the second-best in Canton
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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