Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
We're just one entry away from the one everyone who's followed this series has likely been waiting for at No. 88, but we've obviously got a little business to tend to first here at No. 87. And this one is undoubtedly different than just about every other one we've done previously, as this is one of the few where the winner is a current player.
But given the lackluster lineage from an overall standpoint with this number, that's just how it has to be. But before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's worn No. 87 for America's Team over the years.
- Ray Alexander, WR
- Gordon Banks, WR
- Nate Borden, DE
- Billy Davis, WR
- Jake Ferguson, TE
- Ron Howard, TE
- Ken-Yon Rambo, WR
- Alfredo Roberts, TE
- Jay Saldi, TE/WR
- Derrick Shepard, WR
- Andre Smith, TE
- Zuriel Smith, WR
- Jeremy Sprinkle, TE
- Andy Stynchula, DE
- Geoff Swaim, TE
- Andy Thorn, TE
- Billy Truax, TE
- Jason Tucker, WR
- Dedric Ward, WR
With all due respect to everyone on this list, you can see that there aren't many recognizable names here. And it certainly says a lot that the runner-up in this slot is Jay Saldi, who spent seven seasons in Dallas from 1976 to 1982 and caught 63 passes for 704 yards with seven touchdowns.
Again, that's not meant to be disrespectful, and to his credit, Saldi did contribute a lot on special teams and was the recipient of the last touchdown pass ever thrown by the great Roger Staubach. But still, you saw the numbers above.
So, with Saldi out of the mix, that leaves us with Jake Ferguson to take this title of the best Cowboys player to wear No. 87.
Jake Ferguson has already made two Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys
A First-Team All-Big Ten selection at the University of Wisconsin in 2021, Ferguson was taken by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 129th overall selection.
With Dalton Schultz still on the roster, Ferguson wasn't heavily featured in the Cowboys' offense as a rookie, seeing just 22 targets and tallying just 19 catches for 174 yards with two touchdowns.
But once Schultz signed with the Houston Texans during the 2023 offseason, Ferguson became the team's TE1 and had a strong second season, catching 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl and adding another 10 grabs for 93 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys' loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the postseason.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder wasn't quite as productive in 2024, some of which was due to missing three games with injuries, but he bounced back with a second Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, catching 82 passes for 600 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ferguson is signed through the 2029 season, so assuming he stays productive and doesn't become a cap casualty in the near future, he'll get the chance to add to his already solid resume.
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
- No. 80: Helped America's Team make history
- No. 81: Was hated before coming to America's Team
- No. 82: Owns an absurd amount of franchise records
- No. 83: Was with Bill Parcells on two teams
- No. 84: The overlooked star of the 1990s dynasty
- No. 85: Was the lone member of an elite club for decades
- No. 86: Made a little 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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