Dallas Cowboys Best Players: Top 15 in Franchise History

· May 14 - 6 minutes read

These are not the best of times for the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL franchise was dubbed “America’s Team” when it rose to prominence under head coach Tom Landry and then dominated under Jimmy Johnson. However, the Cowboys are 5-13 in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl following the 1995 season.

The Cowboys have had plenty of star power over the years. Let’s look at the best Dallas Cowboys players with stars from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s leading the way.

Dallas Cowboys Best Players: Top 15 in Franchise History — Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach | Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP

When looking at six NFL quarterbacks who transcended sports, a Dallas Cowboys passer will surely be on the list.

Look At The Best Dallas Cowboys Players

Roger Staubach

Other Dallas quarterbacks have put up better numbers, but when the Cowboys rose to prominence in the 1970s, the former Heisman Trophy winner was the face of the franchise and among the best players on the Dallas Cowboys.

“Captain Comeback” helped the Cowboys win two Super Bowls and led the NFL in passer rating four times. He was also part of one of the 5 best NFL draft classes of all time.

The Cowboys would never have been known as “America’s Team” without the play of their dynamic quarterback. He makes the cut among the top 4 QBs in Cowboys history.

Emmitt Smith

Smith owns the NFL career records with 18355 rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns. He rushed for more than 1000 yards in 11 of his first 12 seasons – all with the Cowboys. Running behind perhaps the best offensive line in NFL history, Smith is considered one of the best players in NFL history and one of the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest players.

Bob Lilly

Lilly was the first player drafted by the Cowboys, and they certainly hit the jackpot when selecting the defensive tackle. Lilly was known as “Mr. Cowboy.”

Lilly spent his entire 14-year career with the Cowboys and was a key member of their first championship team.

Randy White

Drafted as a linebacker, White wreaked havoc on opposing offenses as a defensive tackle. The Doomsday Defense was built around relentless White. A highlight came when he was named the co-Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XII.

While offensive players might garner more attention, White deserves his place among famous Cowboys players.

Tony Dorsett

If not for Emmitt Smith, Dorsett would be considered the best Cowboys running back ever. Another Heisman Trophy winner to play for the Cowboys, Dorsett was a threat to go the distance every time he touched the ball. Early in his career, it was clear that Dorsett would go down as one of the best Cowboys players of all time.

Troy Aikman

Aikman was the top pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and part of the Cowboys’ rebuilding process after Jimmy Johnson was hired as the second coach in franchise history.

Although his numbers aren’t impressive, his ability to deliver in the clutch helps make him one of the best Dallas Cowboys of all time. Aikman is among the Dallas Cowboys’ all-time Super Bowl MVPs.

Michael Irvin

It is hard to think about Aikman without the name of Michael Irvin coming up. Irvin got off to a bit of a slow start with a total of 78 catches in his first three NFL seasons. He would be targeted over 100 times in seven consecutive seasons before his career ended after four games in 1999.

Any list of the top four receivers in Cowboys history has to be headlined by Irvin.

Larry Allen

The best of the dominant offensive line for the Cowboys in the 1990s, Allen was a Pro Bowl selection in 11 of his first 13 seasons. He is considered one of the best offensive linemen in NFL history. No list of the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest players is complete without Allen.

Jason Witten

Witten was a sure-handed receiver and a willing blocker as he became the top tight end in franchise history. He had more than 1000 catches for the Cowboys before ending his career in 2020 with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Zack Martin

Martin is undoubtedly headed to the Hall of Fame as the offensive guard started all 162 games during his 11 years with the Cowboys before retiring after the 2024 season. Perhaps current Cowboys CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Dak Prescott will make the list of the best Cowboys of all time. Martin certainly belongs there.

Drew Pearson

Just imagine what a smooth route runner like Pearson could do in today’s NFL. He teamed with Staubach to lead the Cowboys to championship glory. His TD catch against Minnesota on a hail mary is one of the most famous plays in franchise history.

Ed Jones

Ed “Too Tall” Jones was the No. 1 overall pick. Despite sitting out the 1979 season to pursue a short-lived career as a professional boxer, Jones had more than 100 career sacks as he teamed with White and Harvey Martin on a talented defensive front.

Darren Woodson

It didn’t take Woodson long to make his presence felt. The hard-hitting safety had 155 tackles in his second NFL season. He played all 12 seasons with the Cowboys.

DeMarcus Ware

Highlighted by a 20-sack season in 2008, Ware had at least 10 sacks in seven straight seasons with the Cowboys after being a first-round pick. It could be argued that he is the best pure pass rusher ever to play for the Cowboys.