Welcome back to The Landry Hat's series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
With the single digits, teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s now all in the books, we're ready to press forward with the next group, and we've got a special entry to kick things off here at No. 80 with one of the best wide receivers in franchise history.
But before we break everything down, let's first run through our usual process of looking at everyone who's worn No. 80 for America's Team over the years.
- Rod Barksdale, WR
- Gary Barnes, WR
- Blake Bell, TE
- Martellus Bennett, TE
- Camden Brown, WR
- Anthony Fasano, TE
- Ryan Flournoy, WR
- Lee Folkins, TE
- Bernard Ford, WR
- Rico Gathers, TE
- Everett Gay, WR
- Alvin Harper, WR
- Rod Harris, WR
- Tony Hill, WR
- Traeshon Holden, WR
- Dave McDaniels, WR
- Tony McGee, TE
- Ernie Mills, WR
- Lee Murchison, WR
- Sean Ryan, TE
- O.J. Santiago, TE
- Sebron Spivey, WR
- Reggie Swinton, WR
- Stepfret Williams, WR
While the winner is a no-brainer, the pick for the runner-up slot is as well, as that honor goes to Alvin Harper, who was a fantastic WR2 option for Troy Aikman alongside the great Michael Irvin for four seasons in the early 1990s.
Taken in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft with the 12th overall selection, the Tennessee alum helped Dallas to the first two of its three Super Bowl victories in the '90s, tallying 124 receptions for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns in the regular season from 1991 to 1994 and recording another 24 catches for 655 yards and four touchdowns in 10 postseason appearances, one of which in the latter category was a 45-yard touchdown in the Cowboys' victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 27.
Harper left the Cowboys ahead of the 1995 season in an attempt to be the No. 1 guy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but things didn't work out the way he'd hoped, as he spent just two years with the Bucs and then one in Washington.
There was also a short stint with the New Orleans Saints, which didn't amount to much, and he did ultimately close his NFL career back with the Cowboys, appearing in two games but making zero catches in 1999 after Irvin's career-ending injury. His final pro football game came in 2001 with the Memphis Maniax in the XFL.
But enough on Harper, as we need to get to our winner, which, of course, is none other than the great Tony Hill.
Tony Hill remains one of the greatest wide receivers in Dallas Cowboys history
A back-to-back Second-Team All-American at Stanford in 1975 and 1976, Hill was taken by Dallas in the third round of the 1977 NFL Draft with the 62nd overall selection.
The California native only tallied two receptions for 21 yards as a rookie but did add 188 yards as a kick/punt returner, so he did at least contribute to that Super Bowl-winning squad in '77.
He got his chance to shine as a receiver in 1978, and he certainly didn't waste it, earning a Pro Bowl selection after catching 46 passes for 823 yards and six touchdowns in helping the Cowboys get back to the Super Bowl, where he recorded two receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown in a 35-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hill had one of the best seasons of his career in 1979, earning a second straight trip to the Pro Bowl after catching 60 passes for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns. And with Drew Pearson going for 1,026 yards on 55 grabs, that was the first time in Dallas history that the team had two 1,000-yard receivers.
Furthermore, with Tony Dorsett rushing for 1,107 yards, the Cowboys became the first team in NFL history with two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. So, there's something fun for your next trivia night.
Hill continued to produce in the years that followed, and in 1985, he earned his third Pro Bowl selection with a career-high 74 receptions for a career-best 1,113 yards and seven scores.
When he was waived by the Cowboys ahead of the 1987 season, he'd tallied 479 catches for 7,988 yards and 51 touchdowns, which, at that time, ranked second, first, and second in franchise history, respectively. And to this day, he still ranks seventh or better in each category.
So, again, this was a no-brainer, as Tony Hill easily takes the title of the best Cowboys player to wear No. 80.
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
- No. 76: Highest offensive line draftee in Cowboys history
- No. 77: Has a historic connection to Jerry Jones
- No. 78: Isn't remembered for his Super Bowl heroics
- No. 79: Holds a unique piece of Super Bowl history
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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