Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
We're inching closer and closer to the conclusion of our journey, and we continue here at No. 97 with a player who wasn't with the team very long but undoubtedly made an impact, even if his individual success didn't translate to the team as a whole.
But before we get to all of that, let's first have a quick look at everyone who's worn No. 97 for America's Team over the years.
- Ron'Dell Carter, DE
- Taco Charlton, DE
- Kenny Clark, DT
- Aaron Fields, DE
- La'Roi Glover, DT
- Everson Griffen, DE
- Jason Hatcher, DE
- Trysten Hill, DT
- Jimmie Jones, DT
- Kevin Lilly, DT
- Terrell McClain, DT
- Osa Odighizuwa, DT
- Kavika Pittman, DE
- David Ponder, DT
Outside of our official selection, there are a few others on this list who deserve to be mentioned.
Going in chronological order, we've got Jimmie Jones, who was with the team during its first two Super Bowl wins in the 1990s and tallied 19.0 sacks from 1990 to 1993. There's one-time Pro Bowler Jason Hatcher, who spent eight years with a star on the side of his helmet from 2006 to 2013, recording 209 total tackles and 27.0 sacks.
And, of course, there's Osa Odighizuwa, who amassed 216 total tackles and 17.0 sacks for the Cowboys from 2021 to 2025 before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
But the clear call here at No. 97 is La'Roi Glover.
La'Roi Glover earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys
A two-time Second-Team All-WAC selection at San Diego State, Glover was taken by the then-Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft with the 166th overall selection.
After appearing in just two regular-season games as a rookie, the California native spent the spring of 1997 overseas playing for the Barcelona Dragons of the World League (NFL Europe), helping his team to a title and earning all-league honors after ranking third in the league with 6.5 sacks.
Despite the success in Spain, Glover was waived by the Raiders ahead of the 1997 season, at which point he signed with the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent five seasons and tallied 50.0 sacks, including a league-leading 17.0 in 2000, ultimately earning two trips to the Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections.
The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder turned his success into a lucrative contract with the Cowboys and continued to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league, earning a third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and a Second-Team All-Pro selection after recording 50 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and an interception.
That didn't stop Dallas from having a third consecutive 5-11 season, but he was impressive nonetheless.
Bill Parcells became the Cowboys' head coach in 2003, but the transition didn't affect Glover in the slightest, as he earned yet another Pro Bowl selection and a second straight Second-Team All-Pro selection after tallying 49 total tackles and 5.0 sacks, helping the team to the postseason for the first time since 1999 and its first 10-win season since 1998.
The next two seasons didn't go quite as smoothly from a team standpoint, as Dallas went a combined 15-17 and missed the playoffs both years, but Glover again made the Pro Bowl in both 2004 and 2005, racking up a combined 69 total tackles and 10.0 sacks. He then closed out his career playing three seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
So, again, while Glover wasn't with the team long, he made his presence felt, and he's easily the best Cowboys player to wear No. 97.
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
- No. 87: Is still wearing it
- No. 88: Was Tom Landry's last first-round draft pick
- No. 89: Was given the number by the second-best
- No. 90: Has the same story of the player he replaced
- No. 91: Played the second-most games in Cowboys history
- No. 92: Led the team in sacks in the 1990s
- No. 93: Joined an exclusive club as a rookie
- No. 94: Is the Cowboys' all-time leader in sacks
- No. 95: Earned multiple medals in the Air Force
- No. 96: Was highly coveted by Bill Parcells
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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