Fansided

Dallas Cowboys all-time Mount Rushmore

By William Schneiderhan

IRVING, TX - JANUARY 7: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium in the 1995 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 7, 1996 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 30-11. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX - JANUARY 7: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium in the 1995 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 7, 1996 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 30-11. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 8: Roger Staubach #12 of the Dallas Cowboys in actions against the Washington Redskins during an NFL football game October 8, 1973 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Staubach played for the Cowboys from 1969-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 8: Roger Staubach #12 of the Dallas Cowboys in actions against the Washington Redskins during an NFL football game October 8, 1973 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Staubach played for the Cowboys from 1969-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

4. Roger Staubach, QB (1969-1979)

Tom Landry had only made the playoffs three times from 1960-68 as the head coach of the Cowboys. Don Meredith was the starting quarterback from 1962 until his final season of 1968.

After Meredith, Landry went to Craig Morton from 1969-70, and then again in 1972 before Roger Staubach became a mainstay under center.

In 1971, the year in which Morton was not the starter come season’s end, Staubach finally got the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and Landry secured that title he had been chasing.

Staubach went 10-0 in 1971 and won the Bert Bell Award in his first year as a starter. He threw for 15 touchdowns, 1,882 yards and only tossed four picks. In the playoffs that year, he had three passing scores and 321 yards.

In 1972, Staubach played in only four games due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. Coming back healthy, he took back his starting job and kept it up until 1979, his last season.

Landry and Staubach went on to win the Super Bowl again in 1977, and they had a dominant run in the NFC.  With Landry as head coach and Staubach at quarterback, they won two super bowls and missed the playoffs just one time from 1971-79.

Staubach’s 22,700 passing yards rank third all-time in team history, his 153 touchdown passes are the fourth-most, and his 85 regular season wins are second-most. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and made the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Playing, and winning, during one of the greatest eras in team history, Staubach is a franchise icon.

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