Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time is a brutal ranking because Dallas has one of the deepest legend pools in NFL history. Emmitt Smith is the NFL’s all-time rushing king. Bob Lilly is “Mr. Cowboy.” Randy White was controlled violence at defensive tackle. Roger Staubach gave America’s Team its quarterback mythology. Larry Allen might be the most terrifying offensive lineman ever.
That is before getting to Jason Witten, Mel Renfro, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, Zack Martin, Tony Dorsett, DeMarcus Ware, Chuck Howley, Darren Woodson, Tyron Smith and the rest of a franchise list that could embarrass most teams’ top shelves.
This is a tier list, not a strict 1-through-41 ranking. The tiers are ranked, but the players inside the same tier are grouped in the same all-time legacy range rather than ordered from best to worst. The ranking weighs peak dominance, Cowboys production, longevity, awards, playoff impact, championships, franchise records, leadership and how strongly each player shaped Dallas Cowboys history.
Table of Contents
- How We Ranked the Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time
- Why This Cowboys Ranking Is Different
- Tier 7: Important Cowboys Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces
- Tier 6: Top Cowboys With Strong Careers
- Tier 5: Cowboys Franchise Greats
- Tier 4: Great Cowboys With Major Cases
- Tier 3: Elite Cowboys Legends
- Tier 2: Inner-Circle Cowboys Greats
- Tier 1: Greatest Dallas Cowboys Players Ever
- Full Tier List Table
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- More NFL All-Time Player Rankings
How We Ranked the Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time
This ranking is based only on what each player did with the Dallas Cowboys. Full NFL legacy matters only when it overlaps with Dallas. That means Deion Sanders gets credit for being elite in Dallas, but not for his entire Prime Time career. It means Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb get credit for what is already on the board, while still leaving room for their Cowboys stories to change.
Championships matter here, but they are not the only thing. Dallas has too many legends for the list to become a basic ring count. Peak, production, longevity, individual dominance, All-Pro value, Hall of Fame legacy, franchise records and role in Cowboys history all matter.
The tiers are the main ranking structure. Tier 1 is above Tier 2, Tier 2 is above Tier 3 and so on. Inside each tier, the names are grouped together in the same general legacy range. That means Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Roger Staubach and Larry Allen are all Tier 1 players, but the list is not trying to split every small difference between players within that same tier.
Why This Cowboys Ranking Is Different
This is not just a stat-table ranking. The goal is to separate Cowboys legacy by tier, not pretend every player can be perfectly ranked across completely different Dallas eras. A 1960s franchise builder, a Doomsday defender, a 1990s dynasty star and a modern Cowboys player all need different context.
That is why this list weighs dominance within era, franchise value, peak, longevity, awards, records, playoff impact and championship role together. It also separates all-time legacy from projection. Active players only get credit for what they have already done in Dallas, not what they might do later.
Tier 7: Important Cowboys Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces
Tier 7 includes Calvin Hill, Ezekiel Elliott, Jethro Pugh, Tom Rafferty, George Andrie, Don Perkins, and Don Meredith.
Tier 7 is proof that Dallas history is not shallow. These are not random names filling out the bottom of a graphic. This tier has Pro Bowl backs, early franchise stars, championship defenders, long-term starters and a quarterback who helped turn the Cowboys into a national product.
Calvin Hill
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 6 seasons with Dallas, 4 Pro Bowls, 1969 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 5,000+ rushing yards as a Cowboy, Super Bowl VI champion.
Calvin Hill gave the Cowboys a complete back before the franchise’s later running back royalty took over the spotlight. He could run, catch, block and handle a real workload in Tom Landry’s offense.
His rookie season set the tone immediately, and four Pro Bowls show this was not just an early-career flash. Hill is part of why Dallas became known for producing major running back talent.
Ezekiel Elliott
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 8 seasons across two Dallas stints, 8,488 rushing yards, 71 rushing touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, 2 NFL rushing titles, 2016 First-Team All-Pro selection.
Ezekiel Elliott hit the league like a hammer in 2016. Behind that dominant offensive line, he gave Dallas instant identity, led the NFL in rushing and helped turn the Cowboys into a 13-win team with a rookie quarterback.
The back half was not as explosive, but Zeke’s early prime was real. He was physical, reliable and central to the early Dak Prescott era. He is not above Tony Dorsett or Emmitt Smith in Cowboys running back history, but his first Dallas stretch absolutely belongs on this list.
Jethro Pugh
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 2 Super Bowl titles, longtime defensive tackle, 95.5 unofficial sacks.
Jethro Pugh was one of the durable defensive pillars of the early Cowboys. He played next to Bob Lilly, did the hard interior work and gave Dallas more pass-rush production than many modern fans realize.
Because sacks were not official for most of his prime, his résumé can get flattened by time. The truth is simple: Pugh was a major piece of the Cowboys’ first championship era.
Tom Rafferty
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 200+ games, Super Bowl XII champion, longtime center and guard.
Tom Rafferty was a reliable offensive lineman through the late Landry years and into the 1980s. He played center, played guard and gave Dallas the kind of positional flexibility coaches love.
Fourteen seasons in the trenches is not luck. Rafferty lasted because he was tough, smart and valuable through multiple versions of Cowboys football.
George Andrie
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 5 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl VI champion, key defensive end on the Doomsday Defense.
George Andrie was one of the early pass-rushing faces of the Cowboys defense. Before the franchise had decades of defensive line tradition, Andrie helped build the standard.
Five Pro Bowls and a role on the first Super Bowl championship team give him a sturdy Dallas résumé. He belongs on this list without needing a modern stat sheet to rescue him.
Don Perkins
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 8 seasons with Dallas, 6 Pro Bowls, 6,217 rushing yards, 42 rushing touchdowns, first major running back in franchise history.
Don Perkins was the Cowboys’ first great running back. He led the team in rushing every season he played and helped give a young franchise a legitimate offensive identity.
Six Pro Bowls in eight seasons is loud production. Perkins did not play in the Cowboys’ championship peak, but he helped make Dallas respectable before the dynasty years arrived.
Don Meredith
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 9 seasons with Dallas, 17,199 passing yards, 135 touchdown passes, 3 Pro Bowls, quarterback of the Cowboys’ first playoff teams.
Don Meredith gave the Cowboys personality before America’s Team became a finished product. He was tough, entertaining and talented enough to lead Dallas into its first serious competitive window.
The playoff heartbreak against Green Bay kept his legacy from becoming even bigger, but Meredith’s role in building early Cowboys credibility is obvious. Dallas football did not start with Staubach and Aikman.
Tier 6: Top Cowboys With Strong Careers
Tier 6 includes Danny White, Flozell Adams, Drew Pearson, John Niland, CeeDee Lamb, Dez Bryant, and Travis Frederick.
Tier 6 is where Cowboys history starts showing off its depth. There are Hall of Fame receivers, modern record-breakers, elite offensive linemen and a quarterback who had the impossible job of following Roger Staubach.
Danny White
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 21,959 passing yards, 155 touchdown passes, Pro Bowl quarterback, longtime punter, led Dallas to three NFC Championship Games.
Danny White had to follow Roger Staubach, which is one of the toughest assignments in Cowboys history. He did not win the Super Bowl that would have changed his reputation, but he kept Dallas highly competitive.
White led the Cowboys to three straight NFC Championship Games from 1980 to 1982. That is not a failed career. That is a quarterback who came close in a brutal NFC era.
Flozell Adams
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 12 seasons with Dallas, 5 Pro Bowls, 178 games, longtime starting left tackle.
Flozell Adams was a giant left tackle who protected the blind side through the late 1990s and 2000s. He was not always perfect, but he was powerful, durable and good enough to earn five Pro Bowls.
Dallas has a long offensive line tradition, and Adams belongs in it. Any tackle who starts that long for the Cowboys earns real all-time consideration.
Drew Pearson
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 489 catches, 7,822 receiving yards, 48 touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl XII champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Drew Pearson is one of the great clutch receivers in Cowboys history. The original No. 88 carried himself like a star before Dallas turned that number into a receiver tradition.
The Hail Mary catch from Roger Staubach is the signature moment, but Pearson’s career was more than one play. He belongs in any Cowboys-focused conversation about the best wide receivers of all-time.
John Niland
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 9 seasons with Dallas, 6 Pro Bowls, multiple All-Pro selections, Super Bowl VI champion.
John Niland was a standout guard during the Cowboys’ rise into a championship franchise. He blocked for Tom Landry’s balanced offense and gave Dallas a high-level interior presence.
Six Pro Bowls from a guard spot is a major résumé. Niland may not get brought up as often as Larry Allen or Zack Martin, but he was a serious Cowboys lineman.
CeeDee Lamb
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2020–present, 500+ receptions, 7,000+ receiving yards, 40+ receiving touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, franchise single-season records for catches and receiving yards.
CeeDee Lamb is already one of the most talented wide receivers in Cowboys history. The No. 88 legacy is heavy, and Lamb has not looked scared of it at all.
His 2023 season was the monster, when he took over as a true WR1 and broke franchise single-season receiving records. He already has the numbers to make this list. If he keeps stacking All-Pro-level seasons, Tier 6 will not hold him for long.
Dez Bryant
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 8 seasons with Dallas, 531 catches, 7,459 receiving yards, franchise-record 73 receiving touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, 2014 First-Team All-Pro selection.
Dez Bryant was pure emotion and contested-catch violence. At his peak, he was one of the most dangerous red-zone receivers in football.
His 2014 season was the full Dez experience: 1,320 yards, 16 touchdowns and First-Team All-Pro recognition. Cowboys fans still argue about the catch in Green Bay because Dez made big moments feel possible.
Travis Frederick
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 7 seasons with Dallas, 96 starts, 5 Pro Bowls, multiple All-Pro selections, anchor of the 2010s Cowboys offensive line.
Travis Frederick was the brain and center of one of the best offensive lines of the modern era. His career was shorter than it should have been, but his peak was obvious.
After battling Guillain-Barré syndrome and returning for the 2019 season, Frederick retired in 2020. When he was healthy, the Cowboys’ run game and protection calls felt different. Centers rarely get star treatment. He deserved it.
Tier 5: Cowboys Franchise Greats
Tier 5 includes Cliff Harris, Rayfield Wright, Too Tall Jones, Harvey Martin, Ralph Neely, and Nate Newton.
Tier 5 is loaded with championship muscle. This group has Hall of Fame defensive backs, Hall of Fame offensive tackles, pass rushers from the Doomsday era and a road-grading guard from the 1990s dynasty.
Cliff Harris
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 10 seasons with Dallas, 29 interceptions, 6 Pro Bowls, multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Cliff Harris played safety with speed, aggression and a little bit of outlaw energy. He was the kind of defender receivers noticed before the ball even arrived.
Harris helped define the Doomsday Defense and played in five Super Bowls with Dallas. His Hall of Fame induction only confirmed what Cowboys fans already knew.
Rayfield Wright
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 6 Pro Bowls, multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rayfield Wright became one of the great right tackles of his era. He was athletic, powerful and important to the Cowboys’ offensive balance during the 1970s.
Wright’s career is a reminder that Dallas offensive line greatness did not begin in the 1990s or 2010s. The standard was set long before that.
Too Tall Jones
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 15 seasons with Dallas, 106 unofficial sacks, 3 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl XII champion, longtime defensive end.
Too Tall Jones looked like a mismatch before the ball was even snapped. At 6-foot-9, he brought length, power and presence to the Cowboys defensive front.
His 106 unofficial sacks are a massive number for a player whose career crossed eras of inconsistent sack tracking. Jones was a Dallas problem for a very long time.
Harvey Martin
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 114 unofficial sacks, 4 Pro Bowls, 1977 Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl XII co-MVP.
Harvey Martin had one of the best defensive peaks in Cowboys history. His 1977 season was a wrecking-ball year, ending with Defensive Player of the Year honors and a Super Bowl MVP share.
Martin was not just riding along with a great defense. He was one of the reasons it became feared. His pass-rushing case deserves more national oxygen.
Ralph Neely
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 2 Pro Bowls, multiple All-Pro selections, 2 Super Bowl titles, longtime offensive tackle.
Ralph Neely was a steady tackle through the Cowboys’ first major championship era. He protected quarterbacks, helped the run game and gave Tom Landry the kind of line stability every coach wants.
Neely started on Super Bowl teams and lasted more than a decade in Dallas. That is a clean, valuable Cowboys career.
Nate Newton
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 6 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowl titles, key guard on the 1990s dynasty offensive line.
Nate Newton was the muscle in the 1990s Cowboys offensive line. He was huge, physical and perfect for the downhill run game that made Emmitt Smith unstoppable.
Three Super Bowl rings and six Pro Bowls say enough. Newton’s job was to move people. He did it very well.
Tier 4: Great Cowboys With Major Cases
Tier 4 includes Lee Roy Jordan, Dak Prescott, Cornell Green, Tony Romo, Deion Sanders, and Bob Hayes.
Tier 4 has a little bit of everything: quarterback numbers, old-school defense, Hall of Fame speed, a Super Bowl-era corner and one of the most respected linebackers in Cowboys history.
Lee Roy Jordan
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 5 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl VI champion, longtime middle linebacker and Cowboys Ring of Honor member.
Lee Roy Jordan was one of the defensive brains of the early Cowboys. He played middle linebacker with toughness, instincts and leadership during the franchise’s first championship push.
Jordan spent his entire career in Dallas and helped bridge the Cowboys from contender to champion. That is the kind of career that ages well.
Dak Prescott
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2016–present, franchise passing record holder, 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year, multiple Pro Bowls, 2023 Second-Team All-Pro.
Dak Prescott is one of the most productive quarterbacks in Cowboys history, which has to matter. The playoff criticism is real, but so is the production.
His final ranking still depends on what happens next. If he adds a deep playoff run or a Super Bowl, the conversation changes quickly. From a regular-season production angle, he already belongs high on the Cowboys quarterback board.
Cornell Green
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 34 interceptions, 5 Pro Bowls, multiple All-Pro selections, Super Bowl VI champion.
Cornell Green was a high-level defensive back before the Cowboys had decades of secondary history behind them. He played corner and safety, produced turnovers and earned respect across the league.
Green never played college football, which makes the career even wilder. He became a five-time Pro Bowler anyway. That is a serious athlete and a serious Cowboy.
Tony Romo
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 34,183 passing yards, 248 touchdown passes, 4 Pro Bowls, former franchise passing leader.
Tony Romo is still one of the most talented quarterbacks the Cowboys have had. His pocket movement, creativity and ability to make off-script throws kept Dallas alive in games it had no business surviving.
The playoff résumé keeps him out of the top quarterback tier, but the player was better than the lazy jokes. Romo carried a lot of flawed Cowboys teams farther than they probably should have gone.
Deion Sanders
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 5 seasons with Dallas, Super Bowl XXX champion, 4 Pro Bowls as a Cowboy, multiple First-Team All-Pro selections with Dallas.
Deion Sanders did not spend forever in Dallas, but the peak was electric. He gave the Cowboys a true shutdown corner, return value and the kind of superstar aura that fit the 1990s dynasty perfectly.
This is not a full-career ranking, so Deion lands lower than his NFL legacy might suggest. But as a Cowboy, he was still Prime Time, and that meant something.
Bob Hayes
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 10 seasons with Dallas, 365 catches, 7,295 receiving yards, 71 receiving touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl VI champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob Hayes changed football speed. “Bullet Bob” was not just fast for a receiver. He was Olympic-gold-medal fast, and defenses had to adjust to that reality.
His 71 receiving touchdowns with Dallas remain one of the great scoring totals in team history. Hayes belongs in any conversation about the best wide receivers of all-time when impact on defensive spacing is part of the discussion.
Tier 3: Elite Cowboys Legends
Tier 3 includes Darren Woodson, Tony Dorsett, Chuck Howley, DeMarcus Ware, and Tyron Smith.
Tier 3 is loaded with players who could sit higher on plenty of franchise lists. Dallas has a Hall of Fame running back, a Hall of Fame linebacker, the franchise sack leader, a dynasty safety and a modern left tackle who played at an elite level when healthy.
Darren Woodson
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 12 seasons with Dallas, 5 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowl titles, longtime starting safety, franchise leader in tackles.
Darren Woodson was the most important defensive back of the 1990s Cowboys dynasty. He could cover, hit, blitz and clean up messes in space.
Woodson’s Hall of Fame case has taken too long to get the respect it deserves. Three rings, five Pro Bowls and the franchise tackle record should keep him high on any Cowboys list.
Tony Dorsett
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 12,036 rushing yards, 72 rushing touchdowns, 4 Pro Bowls, 1977 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Super Bowl XII champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tony Dorsett was smooth speed in running back form. He arrived as a rookie and immediately helped the Cowboys win a Super Bowl.
Dorsett’s 99-yard touchdown run remains one of the most famous plays in NFL history, but his career was much more than that. He is one of the best running backs Dallas has ever had and belongs in broader best running backs of all-time conversations.
Chuck Howley
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 6 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pro selections, Super Bowl V MVP, Super Bowl VI champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Chuck Howley is one of the greatest linebackers in Cowboys history. He was athletic, instinctive and productive enough to finally earn Hall of Fame recognition after a long wait.
He remains the only Super Bowl MVP from a losing team, which says everything about how dominant he was in Super Bowl V. Howley was not just a historical oddity. He was a star.
DeMarcus Ware
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 9 seasons with Dallas, franchise-record 117 sacks, 7 Pro Bowls as a Cowboy, multiple First-Team All-Pro selections, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
DeMarcus Ware is the greatest pass rusher in Cowboys history by official sack production. He was explosive, flexible, powerful and almost impossible to block one-on-one at his peak.
Ware’s 20-sack season in 2008 was a monster year. He belongs in any serious best pass rushers of all-time debate, and his Cowboys peak is the reason why.
Tyron Smith
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 8 Pro Bowls as a Cowboy, 2 First-Team All-Pro selections, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, longtime left tackle.
Tyron Smith was one of the best left tackles of his era. Injuries became part of the story later, but when he was healthy, he was a wall with rare athleticism.
Smith’s Cowboys résumé is excellent: elite peak, long prime and a major role protecting Tony Romo and Dak Prescott. Dallas has a ridiculous offensive line history, and he belongs near the top of it.
Tier 2: Inner-Circle Cowboys Greats
Tier 2 of the best Dallas Cowboys of all-time ranking, featuring Jason Witten, Mel Renfro, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Zack Martin.
Tier 2 is championship-level and Hall of Fame-heavy. These players either defined a dynasty, owned a franchise record book or played their position at an elite level for a very long time.
Jason Witten
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 16 seasons with Dallas, franchise-record 1,215 receptions, 12,977 receiving yards, 72 touchdowns, 11 Pro Bowls, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
Jason Witten is the greatest tight end in Dallas Cowboys history. He was never the fastest player on the field, but he was always open when Dallas needed him.
Witten’s route feel, durability, toughness and third-down reliability made him one of the best tight ends football has seen. He belongs in any serious best tight ends of all-time conversation.
Mel Renfro
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, franchise-record 52 interceptions, 10 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mel Renfro was a complete defensive back. He could play corner, safety, return kicks and use world-class athleticism to tilt the field.
Ten Pro Bowls and 52 interceptions is an enormous Cowboys career. Renfro is one of the best defensive backs Dallas has ever had, and the numbers still hold up.
Michael Irvin
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 12 seasons with Dallas, 750 catches, 11,904 receiving yards, 65 touchdowns, 5 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowl titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Michael Irvin was the emotional engine of the 1990s Cowboys offense. Troy Aikman ran it, Emmitt Smith finished it, but Irvin brought the fire.
He was physical, loud, clutch and built for big games. Irvin’s postseason production and three rings make his Cowboys case stronger than the raw totals alone.
Troy Aikman
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 12 seasons with Dallas, 32,942 passing yards, 165 touchdown passes, 6 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowl titles, Super Bowl XXVII MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Troy Aikman was the quarterback of the 1990s dynasty, and that sentence carries serious weight. He did not pile up modern passing stats because the Cowboys did not ask him to play that way.
When Dallas needed precision, toughness and playoff calm, Aikman delivered. Three Super Bowl rings and a Super Bowl MVP keep him high in any Cowboys quarterback debate.
Zack Martin
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 9 Pro Bowls, 7 First-Team All-Pro selections, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, 162 starts.
Zack Martin is one of the greatest guards in Cowboys history. From the moment he arrived in 2014, he played like a veteran All-Pro and almost never came down from that level.
Seven First-Team All-Pro selections at guard is ridiculous. Martin belongs near the top of any best offensive linemen of all-time discussion, especially if interior line play is valued properly.
Tier 1: Greatest Dallas Cowboys Players Ever
Tier 1 includes Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Roger Staubach, and Larry Allen.
Tier 1 is brutal. Dallas has the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, the original Mr. Cowboy, a Super Bowl MVP defensive tackle, a legendary championship quarterback and maybe the most physically dominant offensive lineman ever.
Emmitt Smith
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 13 seasons with Dallas, 17,162 rushing yards, 153 rushing touchdowns, 3 Super Bowl titles, Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, 1993 NFL MVP, 8 Pro Bowls, 4 rushing titles, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Emmitt Smith is the greatest Dallas Cowboys player of all-time. The argument starts with production and ends with rings. He became the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, powered the 1990s dynasty and constantly turned winning football into four-yard violence.
People can debate style, but they cannot debate the résumé. Emmitt was the engine of a three-time Super Bowl champion and belongs at the center of any best running backs of all-time conversation.
Bob Lilly
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 11 Pro Bowls, 7 First-Team All-Pro selections, Super Bowl VI champion, first Cowboys draft pick, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob Lilly is “Mr. Cowboy” for a reason. He was the first great Dallas Cowboy, the franchise’s first draft pick and the defensive star who helped give the team its original identity.
Lilly dominated from the interior before defensive tackle stats could fully explain what he was doing. He was the foundation piece for the Cowboys becoming the Cowboys.
Randy White
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 14 seasons with Dallas, 9 Pro Bowls, 7 First-Team All-Pro selections, Super Bowl XII co-MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Randy White was pure violence in the middle of the defensive line. He played with power, leverage and a motor that made him one of the defining defenders of his era.
Sharing Super Bowl XII MVP with Harvey Martin tells you how destructive that Cowboys front was. White belongs in any serious best defensive players of all-time conversation.
Roger Staubach
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 11 seasons with Dallas, 22,700 passing yards, 153 touchdown passes, 6 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl titles, Super Bowl VI MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Roger Staubach is the greatest quarterback in Dallas Cowboys history. Troy Aikman has more rings, Dak Prescott has bigger regular-season passing totals and Tony Romo had modern creativity. Staubach still owns the myth.
Captain Comeback made Dallas feel inevitable late in games. He gave the franchise leadership, efficiency, postseason credibility and a national quarterback identity. He belongs in any best quarterbacks of all-time debate.
Larry Allen
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 12 seasons with Dallas, 10 Pro Bowls as a Cowboy, 7 First-Team All-Pro selections overall, Super Bowl XXX champion, NFL 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Larry Allen is the most physically dominant offensive lineman in Cowboys history. Maybe in football history. He had guard power, tackle feet and strength that still sounds fake when people describe it.
Allen could erase elite defenders and make run lanes look unfair. If the question is peak offensive line dominance, he is one of the first names that should come up.
Full Tier List Table: Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time
Note: This is a tier list, not a strict ranking inside each tier. The tiers are ranked, but players within the same tier are grouped together in the same all-time Cowboys legacy range.
| Tier | Player | Position | Cowboys Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Emmitt Smith | RB | 1990–2002 |
| Tier 1 | Bob Lilly | DT | 1961–1974 |
| Tier 1 | Randy White | DT | 1975–1988 |
| Tier 1 | Roger Staubach | QB | 1969–1979 |
| Tier 1 | Larry Allen | G/OT | 1994–2005 |
| Tier 2 | Jason Witten | TE | 2003–2017, 2019 |
| Tier 2 | Mel Renfro | CB/S | 1964–1977 |
| Tier 2 | Michael Irvin | WR | 1988–1999 |
| Tier 2 | Troy Aikman | QB | 1989–2000 |
| Tier 2 | Zack Martin | G | 2014–2024 |
| Tier 3 | Darren Woodson | S | 1992–2003 |
| Tier 3 | Tony Dorsett | RB | 1977–1987 |
| Tier 3 | Chuck Howley | LB | 1961–1973 |
| Tier 3 | DeMarcus Ware | EDGE | 2005–2013 |
| Tier 3 | Tyron Smith | OT | 2011–2023 |
| Tier 4 | Lee Roy Jordan | LB | 1963–1976 |
| Tier 4 | Dak Prescott | QB | 2016–present |
| Tier 4 | Cornell Green | CB/S | 1962–1974 |
| Tier 4 | Tony Romo | QB | 2003–2016 |
| Tier 4 | Deion Sanders | CB | 1995–1999 |
| Tier 4 | Bob Hayes | WR | 1965–1974 |
| Tier 5 | Cliff Harris | S | 1970–1979 |
| Tier 5 | Rayfield Wright | OT | 1967–1979 |
| Tier 5 | Too Tall Jones | DE | 1974–1978, 1980–1989 |
| Tier 5 | Harvey Martin | DE | 1973–1983 |
| Tier 5 | Ralph Neely | OT | 1965–1977 |
| Tier 5 | Nate Newton | G | 1986–1998 |
| Tier 6 | Danny White | QB/P | 1976–1988 |
| Tier 6 | Flozell Adams | OT | 1998–2009 |
| Tier 6 | Drew Pearson | WR | 1973–1983 |
| Tier 6 | John Niland | G | 1966–1974 |
| Tier 6 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | 2020–present |
| Tier 6 | Dez Bryant | WR | 2010–2017 |
| Tier 6 | Travis Frederick | C | 2013–2019 |
| Tier 7 | Calvin Hill | RB | 1969–1974 |
| Tier 7 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 2016–2022, 2024 |
| Tier 7 | Jethro Pugh | DT | 1965–1978 |
| Tier 7 | Tom Rafferty | C/G | 1976–1989 |
| Tier 7 | George Andrie | DE | 1962–1972 |
| Tier 7 | Don Perkins | RB | 1961–1968 |
| Tier 7 | Don Meredith | QB | 1960–1968 |
FAQ: Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time
Is this a ranked list or a tier list?
This is a tier list. The tiers are ranked, but the players inside the same tier are not ordered from best to worst.
Who is the greatest Dallas Cowboys player of all-time?
Emmitt Smith is the greatest Dallas Cowboys player of all-time on this list. He is the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, won three Super Bowls with Dallas, earned Super Bowl MVP, won NFL MVP and powered the 1990s Cowboys dynasty.
Who is in Tier 1 of the best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time tier list?
Tier 1 includes Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Roger Staubach and Larry Allen. The players inside Tier 1 are grouped together in the highest Cowboys legacy range rather than ranked from first to fifth.
Who is the best quarterback in Dallas Cowboys history?
Roger Staubach is the best quarterback in Dallas Cowboys history on this list. He won two Super Bowls, earned Super Bowl MVP, became the face of the 1970s Cowboys and built the Captain Comeback legacy.
Who is the best defensive player in Dallas Cowboys history?
Bob Lilly is the best defensive player in Dallas Cowboys history from a full franchise legacy standpoint. Randy White, DeMarcus Ware, Mel Renfro and Chuck Howley also have major cases.
Who is the best wide receiver in Dallas Cowboys history?
Michael Irvin is the best wide receiver in Dallas Cowboys history from a championship and franchise-impact standpoint. Drew Pearson, Bob Hayes, Dez Bryant and CeeDee Lamb also have major Cowboys receiving legacies.
Where does Troy Aikman rank among the best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time?
Troy Aikman is in Tier 2 of this Dallas Cowboys all-time tier list. He won three Super Bowls, earned Super Bowl XXVII MVP, made six Pro Bowls and quarterbacked the 1990s dynasty.
Where does Dak Prescott rank among the best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time?
Dak Prescott is in Tier 4 of this Dallas Cowboys all-time tier list. He already has major franchise passing production, but he needs deeper playoff success to climb into the inner-circle Cowboys quarterback conversation.
Conclusion: Ranking the Best Dallas Cowboys Players of All-Time
The best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time list starts with Emmitt Smith because his résumé is the cleanest blend of numbers, championships and franchise impact. He owns the NFL rushing record, led the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty and still feels like the most complete answer for No. 1.
Behind him, the Cowboys have an absurd top shelf. Bob Lilly and Randy White made defensive line greatness part of the franchise identity. Roger Staubach gave Dallas its quarterback mythology. Larry Allen set a physical standard that still sounds unreal. Jason Witten, Mel Renfro, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Zack Martin would be Tier 1 names for plenty of other teams.
The key thing to remember is that this is a tier list. Tier 1 sits above Tier 2, Tier 2 sits above Tier 3 and so on, but the players inside each tier are not ordered from best to worst. They are grouped by legacy range, franchise impact and all-time Cowboys value.
More NFL All-Time Player Rankings
For more all-time NFL rankings, check out our other franchise player lists, position rankings and historical tier lists. You can also read our best running backs of all-time, best quarterbacks of all-time, best offensive linemen of all-time, best wide receivers of all-time and best defensive players of all-time rankings. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.
