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.
Well, we've officially reached the one-fifth mark of our journey, as we've come to our 20th entry, and we've got a nice little battle here for the No. 19 slot. So, without further ado, let's take a quick look at everyone who's donned the digit for America's Team over the years.
- Lance Alworth, WR
- Miles Austin, WR
- Brice Butler, WR
- Amari Cooper, WR
- Ryan Flournoy, WR
- Noah Igbinoghene, CB
- John Jett, P
- Keyshawn Johnson, WR
- Trey Lance, QB
- Clint Longley, QB
- Brett Maher, K
- Lance Rentzel, WR
- Kevin Sweeney, QB
From an overall historical perspective, the most notable name on this list is Lance Alworth, who's the only player listed above to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But as he made his name with the San Diego Chargers and only played a pair of seasons with the Cowboys, he's out, although it should be noted that he won a ring in the first of those two campaigns, catching 34 passes for 487 yards with a pair of touchdowns in 1971.
Going back to that same era, Lance Rentzel had a solid four-year run with Dallas from 1967 to 1970, catching 183 passes for 3,521 yards with 31 touchdowns. But he's on the outside looking in as well.
When all was said and done, though, this became a two-man race between players who suited up in this century.
Now, many might go with Amari Cooper in this slot. And he's certainly got a strong case, as he had a strong three-and-a-half-year run in Big D, catching 292 passes for 3,893 yards with 27 touchdowns and earning a pair of Pro Bowl selections.
But our call here is Miles Austin, which might surprise some people. But it might also surprise some to know (or remember) that he also made a pair of Pro Bowls and that his best season was better than any that Cooper had during his entire career. Throw in the fact that he also returned kicks, and his value was just higher.
Miles Austin made a pair of Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys
Undrafted out of Monmouth in 2006, Austin signed with Dallas as a free agent, and while he didn't catch a single pass as a rookie, he contributed 753 yards on 29 kickoff returns during the regular season and then made a little franchise history in the playoffs, as he became the first Cowboys player ever to return a kickoff for a touchdown in a postseason game, recording a 93-yarder in the third quarter of the team's heartbreaking 21-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
He got a few more touches as a wideout over the next couple of seasons, and in 2009, he broke out something fierce, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl after recording 81 grabs for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns.
And it was this season that was better than anything Cooper ever did, as his best year in Dallas was in 2019, when he tallied 79 receptions for 1,189 yards and eight scores. Cooper's best year in yardage overall came in his second season with the Cleveland Browns in 2023, when he went for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns on 72 catches.
Austin followed up with another Pro Bowl campaign in 2010, recording 69 catches for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns. He never reached the 1,000-yard mark again, although he did come close in 2012, making 66 catches for 943 yards and six TDs. He was released following an injury-plagued 2013 campaign and closed out his career playing one season each for the Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles.
During his eight-year run with the Cowboys, Austin recorded 301 regular-season receptions for 4,481 yards, with the latter number being good for ninth on the all-time franchise list. His 34 receiving touchdowns are also good for 11th, and his 2,146 kickoff return yards are good for sixth.
So, again, while this pick might surprise some people, Miles Austin certainly earned this title of the best Cowboys player to wear No. 19.
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
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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