It's become more commonplace for superstar NFL players to move around but there was a time when players rarely left their franchises — especially star players. This held true for the Dallas Cowboys who kept the majority of their team together during their dynasty in the 1990s.
That doesn't mean a couple of their star players didn't move around during that time, or even earlier. Here's a look at three of the biggest names to ever wear the star who also wore a different uniform later in their careers.
3. Larry Allen, San Francisco 49ers (2006-2007)
Drafted in 1994, which was near the end of their dynasty, Larry Allen quickly became one of the greatest offensive linemen in team history. Allen, who was known for being a mauler at offensive guard was also asked to play both tackle positions during his career and was excellent no matter where he lined up.
this clip of john madden giggling at larry allen’s dominance during a 1999 cowboys vs. colts game 😂
— mike taddow 🆓 (@MikeTaddow) December 29, 2021
pic.twitter.com/gunoCcMsvs
Unfortunately, Allen was unable to finish his career in Big D. The Cowboys released him in 2006 as they were in cap trouble and trying to rebuild. However, Allen wasn't ready to call it quits, so he signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
At 35 years of age, he made the Pro Bowl for the Niners, which was the 11th time he earned the honor. He just missed out on the team again in 2007, being named an alternate.
Allen wasn't just a great player but also had some incredibly durability and longevity. When he's thought of, however, it's wearing No. 73 for America's Team. Not that brief stint where he wore No. 71 for San Francisco.
2. Tony Dorsett, Denver Broncos (1988)
Before Emmitt Smith set the Cowboys record (and NFL record) in rushing yardage, there was Tony Dorsett. Selected second overall in 1977 out of Pitt, there were concerns about his size. Coming into the league, Dorsett was just 192 pounds which left some teams wondering if he could be an every-down back.
It did't take long for him to prove he can be just that.
As a rookie, Dorsett ran for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns. He then ran for at least 1,000 yards in every season — outside of the strike shortened 1982 campaign — until 1985. But then in 1986, Dallas signed Herschel Walker and Dorsett saw his role reduced.
He eventually asked for a trade and was reunited with Dan Reeves, a former offensive coordinator in Dallas. Dorsett was 34 years of age at the time, so he wasn't the same player we remember breaking off the first-ever 99-yard touchdown run in league history, but he was still effective.
Tony Dorsett playing for the Broncos is still totally weird to me. pic.twitter.com/IxPbIGlsTR
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) March 22, 2018
In his lone season with the Broncos, Dorsett recorded 703 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. It wasn't a wildly memorable season, which is just one of many reasons it's easy to forget it ever happened.
1. Emmitt Smith, Arizona Cardinals (2003-2004)
When Emmitt Smith is mentioned, it's impossible to picture him as anything other than a Dallas Cowboy. He was the 17th overall selection in 1990 out of Florida — which was one of the many draft picks acquired in the famous Herschel Walker trade that gave birth to the dynasty of the 1990s.
Smith was the final "triplet" added to the team as he joined quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin to form one of the most dominant offenses in NFL history. While Aikman and Irvin had their share of success, Smith was the player that kept the chains moving.
He spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys and had at least 1,000 yards in 11 of them. He also led the NFL in rushing four times and rushing touchdownd three times. At the end of his 13 years in Dallas, he had a franchise record 17,162 yards and 75 touchdowns. That was also enough for the most in league history, but he wasn't done playing yet.
When Bill Parcells took over, he released Smith and the NFL's top rusher then joined the Arizona Cardinals — which was a franchise starved for a superstar.
His first season with Arizona was forgettable and he suffered a broken shoulder while playing against his former team. He did make a full recovery and got to play one final season in 2004. That year, he had 937 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He also had a touchdown pass, hitting Obafemi Ayanbadejo on a halfback pass.
Smith finished his career with 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns — which still has him at No. 1 all time.