Top 30 NFL players of the 1980s

Top 30 NFL Players of the 1980s

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: Lawrence Taylor #56 of the New York Giants in action against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game September 30, 1990 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Taylor played for the Giants from 1981-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett (33) carries the ball during the NFC Divisional Playoff, a 37-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 16, 1983, at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Jay Dickman/Getty Images) /

26. Tony Dorsett

How have the Dallas Cowboys gotten so lucky with running backs? It seems like over each generation, they have one great runner after the other. Dorsett was drafted by the Cowboys in 1977 with the second overall pick. While he began having success at the tail end of the ‘70s, his career took off in the 1980s.

Dorsett was a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro in 1981. He ran for over 1,600 yards and had six total touchdowns on the ground and in the receiving game. He repeated as a Pro Bowler in 1982 and 1983, and is also responsible for the longest offensive play in NFL history. In a 1982 game against the Vikings, Dorsett ran through the Vikings defense for a 99 yard touchdown.

Dorsett had eight seasons in which he totaled over 1,000 yards rushing. He finished his career with 12,739 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and made one All-Pro team. Dorsett was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and is remembered as one of the great running backs in Cowboys history, and also as one of the best running backs of the decade.

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