25 Greatest Dallas Cowboys of All Time

Smith is the best rusher in NFL history. He was running behind the Great Wall of Dallas, one of, if not the greatest offensive line in history. He was the star of a Cowboys dynasty that won three Super Bowls in four years. The only other team to accomplish this feat is the Tom Brady Bill Belichick Patriots. He had a fierce rivalry with fellow great Barry Sanders for the title of best running back in the league. After a stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Smith retired as a Cowboy.

Lily was born and raised in Texas. He played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU). The Hall of Fame defensive tackle regularly shut down opposing teams in the backfield. He is an 11-time Pro Bowler, and he helped Dallas win its first Super Bowl in 1971.

White took over as defensive tackle when Bob Lilly retired. When the Cowboys won their second Super Bowl in 1977, both White and defensive end Harvey Martin were named Super Bowl MVPs. This is the only time two players have won Super MVP awards. His neck and shoulder injuries hampered his ability to play at the level he desired, and he retired in 1988.

Renfro played as a free safety for the Cowboys. He was part of the Cowboys defense that won two Super Bowls in the 1970s. In his 10th appearance as a Pro Bowler, he intercepted 52 of his passes in his career. He was also a deadly return man. In 1996, Renfro was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy in 1976 and made a name for himself at the University of Pittsburgh. The Cowboys took notice of him and drafted him. He made an immediate impact and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. His running helped the Cowboys win the Super Bowl in 1977. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his eight seasons with the Cowboys. Dorsett and Derrick Henry are the only players in NFL history with 99 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Too Tall Jones was selected No. 1 overall in the 1974 NFL Draft by Dallas. The Tennessee State University graduate is the highest-selected player in the history of an HBCU football program. He was 6-foot-9 and weighed 271 pounds, so his nickname was fitting. He won the Super Bowl in 1977 and retired a year later to become a professional boxer. He had a record of 6-0 (5 KOs) as a heavyweight. He returned and played nine more seasons until his retirement in 1989.

Believe it or not, Green didn't play football until he was in the NFL. He was a star basketball player at Utah State University. The Cowboys recognized his potential as a defensive back and signed him as an undrafted free agent. After learning how to play the football during his rookie year, he served as the Cowboys' starting defensive back for over a decade. He helped the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl in 1971. Green was a natural.

Staubach helped the Dallas Cowboys become America's team. He also started the Cowboys' tradition of great quarterbacks. He played college football at Navy and won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. He served in the Vietnam War before joining the Cowboys. Staubach started as a backup to Craig Morton, but beat him for the job, leading the Cowboys to two Super Bowl championships. There is no America's Team without Staubach.

Irvin was the definition of a winner. During his college days, he won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes. He was then drafted by the Cowboys. He ended up winning three Super Bowls with Dallas. Nicknamed “The Playmaker” for his habit of making big plays in big games, Irvin was the heart and soul of the Cowboys' dynasty. After his retirement, he used his outgoing personality to shine as a soccer analyst.

Allen was the leader of the Great Wall of Dallas. Allen won a Super Bowl in his second year with Dallas (1995). The 11-time Pro Bowler rarely missed a game in his 12 years in Dallas. The Hall of Fame guard was one of the most dominant blockers you'll ever see.

Howley began his career with the Chicago Bears. He retired after sustaining a career-ending injury and returned to his hometown in West Virginia to work at a gas station. He returned to the Cowboys in 1961 and played there for 13 seasons. He is the only player to win Super Bowl MVP despite losing in the Super Bowl. But don't feel too bad. A year later, the Cowboys won it all. He retired in 1973 due to injury.

Aikman was the leader of the Cowboys Triplets in the '90s. Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin took the NFL by storm, winning three Super Bowls in four years. The Cowboys are a run-heavy team, and Aikman didn't have to throw as much. But when he did, he unleashed it. His leadership held the Cowboys together through good times and bad.

Jordan was a star at Alabama before being drafted by the Cowboys. He played his entire 14-year career with the Cowboys. He led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory in 1971. He was small for a linebacker (6-foot-1, 221 pounds) but made up for it with his determination and tenacity.

Romo went undrafted out of Eastern Illinois. He started his career as a backup and went on to become the best passer in Cowboys history. He earned a reputation as a choker, throwing interceptions at crucial moments. However, he led some teams that lacked talent and competed for a playoff spot for several seasons. He currently serves as an analyst for CBS Sports along with Jim Nantz.

Witten is the best receiver in Cowboys history. He quickly became Tony Romo's favorite target. An 11-time Pro Bowler, he is statistically one of the best tight ends of all time. His running without a helmet showed his toughness.

Neely was a left tackle protecting Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach's blind side. He participated in one of the most successful eras in the franchise's history. He won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys and retired as a champion in 1977.

Martin is one of the only active players on this list. He was part of the great Dallas offensive line of the decade that also featured Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. The eight-time Pro Bowler has blocked multiple 1,000-yard rushers. He is also a member of his NFL 2010s All-Decade team. He has a Hall of Fame resume. A Super Bowl ring would seal the deal, but Dallas hasn't won since the '90s.

Emmitt Smith became the best rusher in NFL history thanks to Nate Newton's block. He was part of the Great Wall of Dallas along with Larry Allen and many others. A six-time Pro Bowler, he was a mainstay of Dallas' offense. He started 180 games with Dallas. He helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls in the '90s. Newton was also a favorite of John Maddens.

Ware was an excellent pass rusher coming out of Troy University. A nine-time Pro Bowler, he holds the Cowboys' record for sacks with 117. He was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate almost every year with the Cowboys. The Hall of Famer left Dallas for the Denver Broncos, where he won Super Bowl 50 as part of the no-fly zone defense.

White had to do a big job in Dallas. He succeeded Roger Staubach, the best quarterback in franchise history. Overall, he had a 62-30 record as a starter and led the Cowboys to three consecutive NFC Championship games (1980-1982), all of which they lost. White was criticized for not winning important games. He's an underrated Cowboys player. He was also a solid punter for several years there.

Smith has been the Cowboys' left tackle for the past 12 years. He's blocked by Tony Romo and Dak Prescott. He is quietly dominant at left tackle. The future Hall of Famer has been one of the best left tackles over the years and is the gold standard at the position.

The Hall of Fame right tackle stopped the Dallas Cowboys from seeing the light of day. The two-time Super Bowl champions protected Roger Staubach and created a hole for Tony Dorsett to run through. His value to the Cowboys teams of the '70s was immeasurable.

Martin and Randy White are the only players in the history of the game to win joint Super Bowl MVP awards. He made four Pro Bowls during his 10 years with Dallas and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1977.

Woodson was drafted with the pick acquired in the Herschel Walker trade. He helped Dallas win three Super Bowls as a strong safety in the 1990s. He was always waiting for the big play to happen.

Pugh was a major contributor to the Dallas defense of the '70s that won two Super Bowls. He was a game-breaker at defensive tackle.