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10 greatest Dallas Cowboys of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys receives congratulations from teammates Michael Irvin (L) and Troy Aikman (R) after breaking the NFL career touchdown record against the Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium 27 December in Irving, Texas. AFP PHOTO/Paul BUCK (Photo by PAUL BUCK / AFP) (Photo by PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images)
Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys receives congratulations from teammates Michael Irvin (L) and Troy Aikman (R) after breaking the NFL career touchdown record against the Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium 27 December in Irving, Texas. AFP PHOTO/Paul BUCK (Photo by PAUL BUCK / AFP) (Photo by PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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1. Roger Staubach, QB

A Heisman Trophy winner from Navy, a 10th-round draft choice in 1964 who didn’t play until 1969 and a quarterback that early in his career seemed to have more designs on carrying the ball than throwing it. But how many more players have been more dangerous late in games than Dallas Cowboys’ field general and Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller Roger Staubach?

What he wound up being is the perfect player for head coach Tom Landry. Four seasons into his career and a combination of injuries and circumstances saw him missing more games (25) than playing. But he was a 10-game start in 1971 when the club went to Super Bowl VI. He was the game’s Most Valuable Player vs. the Dolphins that day and if you include Dallas’ three-game postseason run that year, Landry’s club won all 13 games the efficient Staubach started.

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He would appear in four Super Bowls for the franchise, winning titles in 1971 and ’77 but running into the Steelers in Super Bowls X and XIII at the Orange Bowl. His career numbers really don’t do him justice compared to today’s statistics. But “Captain Comeback” made the “Hail Mary” pass a thing in the 1975 playoffs at Minnesota. And his fourth-quarter heroics on numerous occasions are legendary.

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