Welcome back once again to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
As this series has progressed, we've had a few instances in which we've genuinely hated having to leave a great player off the final list. That said, though, I came into this thing with a hard-and-fast rule that I would never cop out of making a pick by having a tie. I mean, if I couldn't do it at No. 54 when forced to choose between Chuck Howley and Randy White, I can't do it anywhere else, right?
As you've obviously already figured out, we're in one of those situations here at No. 76 where we've got two players who both undoubtedly deserve to be included on this list of 100 we're constructing. But rules and rules, and we can only pick one, so let's get to it. Of course, before we break things down, we must first run through our usual routine of taking a look at everyone who's worn the number for America's Team over the years.
- Flozell Adams, OT/G
- Richard Ash, DT
- Dowe Aughtman, DT
- Larry Bethea, DL
- Aviante Collins, G
- Derrick Dockery, G
- Bill Frank, OT
- John Gonzaga, DE
- Greg Hardy, DE
- Trevor Keegan, G
- Zach Moore, DE
- John Niland, G
- Ed Nutting, OT
- Bob Otto, DE
- Asim Richards, OL
- Xavier Su'a-Filo, G
- Alan Veingrad, OT
- Sam Young, OT
- Jeff Zimmerman, G
Finishing in a close second in this slot is longtime left tackle Flozell Adams, who started 194 of the 198 regular-season games in which he appeared for the Cowboys from 1998 to 2009, as well as all seven postseason contests.
During his dozen-season run in Dallas, the Michigan State alum missed just 10 total games, all of which came during the 2005 season, as he suffered a torn ACL in a Week 6 win over the New York Giants. Adams ultimately earned five Pro Bowl selections, good for a tie for the sixth-most among all offensive linemen in team history, and also received a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2007.
Typically, that would be good enough to win, but in this case, it isn't, as the honor here at No. 76 goes to guard John Niland.
John Niland earned six Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro nods in nine years with the Dallas Cowboys
A two-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time All-American with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Niland was taken by Dallas in the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft with the No. 5 overall selection.
As such, he was the first offensive lineman taken by the Cowboys in the first round, which might not sound all that impressive seeing as how the franchise was founded just six years earlier in 1960 and didn't make its first draft pick until 1961. That said, though, what does make it sound impressive is the fact that, to this day, the Cowboys have still never taken an offensive lineman that high, with Tyron Smith being the closest after being selected at No. 9 overall in 2011.
Niland started just four games as a rookie as a fill-in, but in 1967, Tom Landry made him the full-time starter at left guard, and he simply never relinquished the role, as he became one of the top players at his position in the entire league.
In the six-season stretch from 1968 to 1973, which, of course, included the Cowboys' first Super Bowl victory to close the 1971 campaign, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder earned six consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl, with the streak being good for third among all offensive linemen in team history and eighth overall among all players. From an overall standpoint, consecutive or not, his six Pro Bowl nods are good for a tie for fourth among offensive linemen, with only Larry Allen (10), Zack Martin (9), and Tyron Smith (8) earning more.
Niland also earned three First-Team All-Pro selections, which are good for a tie for the third-most among Cowboys offensive linemen, trailing only Martin (7) and Allen (6).
So, you can see why we had to make him this pick at No. 76, right?
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
- No. 71: Went to high school with Barack Obama
- No. 72: Had the most appropriate nickname ever
- No. 73: The strongest player in NFL history
- No. 74: Was the first member of the Ring of Honor
- No. 75: Was consistently robbed of accolades
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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