Welcome back to our 100-part series covering the greatest Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
While every entry in this series is interesting in one way or another, this particular one here at No. 14 stands out ahead of some others, as the clear-cut winner often gets lost in conversations concerning the greatest quarterbacks in Cowboys history.
But before we get to the reveal, let's first have a look at every player who's worn the number for the Cowboys over the years.
- Miles Austin, WR
- Markquese Bell, DB
- Jabril Cox, LB
- Andy Dalton, QB
- Will Grier, QB
- Gary Hogeboom, QB
- Brad Johnson, QB
- Eddie LeBaron, QB
- Lance Lenoir, WR
- Paul McDonald, QB
- Craig Morton, QB
Before we get to the winner, we absolutely must make mention of Eddie LeBaron, who started the very first regular-season game in Cowboys history in 1960, throwing for 345 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in a 35-28 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. LeBaron ultimately spent four seasons in Dallas, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 1962 despite splitting time with Don Meredith, before losing his job to Meredith for good in 1963.
And Meredith plays a part in the rest of this story, as our winner here at No. 14 was the man who replaced him, Craig Morton.
Craig Morton led the Dallas Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance
A two-time First-Team All-Coast selection and a First-Team All-American at Cal-Berkeley in 1964, Morton was taken by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft with the No. 5 overall selection.
He spent most of his first four seasons backing up Meredith, who'd become one of the top QBs in the NFL, leading Dallas to consecutive appearances in the NFL Championship Game in 1966 and 1967, both of which resulted in losses to the Green Bay Packers, who, of course, went on to win the first two editions of what we now call the Super Bowl.
But when Meredith abruptly retired at the age of 31 following a dreadful outing in the Cowboys' loss to the Cleveland Browns in the 1968 Eastern Conference Championship Game, Morton took over as QB1 in 1969, beating out a 27-year-old rookie by the name of Roger Staubach.
He went 18-5-1 in 24 regular-season starts between the 1969 and 1970 seasons, and in the 1970 postseason, he led the Cowboys to an appearance in Super Bowl 5, only to throw three interceptions in a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts.
In 1971, wanting to give Staubach more opportunities, head coach Tom Landry started switching the two out, even going as far as alternating his two QBs on every other play in a matchup against the Chicago Bears. Staubach ultimately won the job, went 10-0 in his 10 regular-season starts, and then led Dallas to a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl 6.
Morton wasn't quite done, however, as he started all 14 regular-season games for the Cowboys in 1972 after Staubach suffered a separated shoulder during the preseason, going 10-4 to get the team back to the playoffs. But after Staubach engineered a comeback win in the Divisional Round of the postseason against the San Francisco 49ers, the writing was on the wall for Morton, who spent one more season with the team but never made another start.
After spending three seasons with the New York Giants, Morton was traded to the Denver Broncos ahead of the 1977 campaign and promptly revived his career, winning AFC Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He led the Broncos to a 12-2 regular-season record and an appearance in Super Bowl 12 against none other than Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys, who cruised to a 27-10 victory as Morton threw four interceptions in the loss.
Morton remained with the Broncos until his retirement ahead of the 1983 season, which, as many may know, was John Elway's rookie year.
In 10 years with the Cowboys, Morton threw for 10,279 yards and 80 touchdowns, both of which are good for seventh in Dallas history. He may not get the recognition at times that he truly deserves, but he at least gets the nod here as the best Cowboys player ever to wear No. 14.
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)
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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