Dallas Cowboys All-Time Rushing Touchdown Leaders starts with Emmitt Smith at No. 1, and there is no debate. Smith is the Cowboys’ all-time rushing touchdown leader, the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown king and one of the greatest goal-line runners football has ever seen. When Dallas needed the hard yards, Smith was almost always the answer.
Tony Dorsett sits second because his Hall of Fame Cowboys career combined explosive rushing yards with elite touchdown production. Ezekiel Elliott is right behind him at No. 3, only one rushing touchdown behind Dorsett, which shows how strong Zeke’s modern Cowboys case really is.
The rest of the list tells the full story of Cowboys rushing history. Marion Barber brought short-yardage violence. Don Perkins and Calvin Hill built the early franchise foundation. Robert Newhouse and Walt Garrison were tough championship-era backs. Dak Prescott is the rare quarterback to crack the Cowboys rushing touchdown leaderboard. DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs round out the list in a two-player tie at 28 rushing touchdowns.
Several of these players also appear on our broader best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time ranking, which shows how much the running game has shaped the franchise. This list judges each player by Cowboys-only regular-season rushing touchdowns, not total touchdowns or full-career production with other teams.
How We Ranked the Dallas Cowboys All-Time Rushing Touchdown Leaders
This ranking is based on regular-season rushing touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys only. Playoff touchdowns do not count here. Receiving touchdowns do not count either. If a player scored rushing touchdowns with another NFL team, those are not included in this Cowboys-only list.
The main factors are rushing touchdowns, role near the goal line, longevity, offensive workload, era context and how much each player shaped Dallas’ rushing identity. Emmitt Smith is the clear leader because his 153 Cowboys rushing touchdowns are more than double every player on the list except Tony Dorsett and Ezekiel Elliott.
This is a stat-based list first, but the write-ups also explain why each player mattered. Rushing touchdowns tell us who finished drives on the ground. Franchise context tells us why those touchdowns mattered, especially when comparing this Cowboys leaderboard to the broader most rushing touchdowns in NFL history list.
Why This Cowboys Rushing TD Ranking Is Different
This is not the same thing as a best Cowboys running backs ranking. It is specifically a rushing touchdown leaders list. That means the order is based on Cowboys rushing touchdowns, not rushing yards, total touchdowns, Hall of Fame status or overall talent.
That distinction matters. Marion Barber ranks fourth here because he was a touchdown machine, even though he ranks lower on the rushing yards list. Dak Prescott appears because quarterback rushing touchdowns count the same as running back rushing touchdowns in this category. DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs are tied at 28 rushing touchdowns, even though their roles and playing styles were very different.
Era context also matters. Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett played in more traditional workhorse eras. Ezekiel Elliott entered the league as a modern feature back. Dak Prescott benefits from goal-line quarterback usage. Pollard ranks higher in Cowboys rushing yards than touchdowns, while Barber ranks higher in touchdowns than yards. That is why this list has its own shape.
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10. DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: DeMarco Murray had 28 rushing touchdowns with Dallas from 2011–2014. Ron Springs had 28 rushing touchdowns with Dallas from 1979–1984.
The No. 10 spot is a two-player tie between DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs. Murray is the more famous modern name because of his huge 2014 season, while Springs was a versatile back who played next to Tony Dorsett during the Tom Landry era.
Murray’s Cowboys peak was short but powerful. In 2014, he became the NFL rushing leader, won Offensive Player of the Year and carried Dallas to a 12-win season. His rushing touchdown total is lower than it could have been because he left after that season, but his peak was one of the best in franchise history.
Springs had a different type of value. He was a fullback/running back who could run, catch and block. His 28 rushing touchdowns show that Dallas trusted him near the goal line, especially when defenses were focused on Dorsett.
Because both finished with 28 Cowboys rushing touchdowns, they share the final spot on this list.
9. Walt Garrison
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1966–1974 with Dallas, 30 rushing touchdowns, 3,886 rushing yards, Super Bowl VI champion.
Walt Garrison ranks ninth in Cowboys rushing touchdowns with 30. He was one of the toughest and most memorable backs from the early Cowboys championship era.
Garrison was not a flashy player, but he fit Dallas perfectly. He could run inside, block, catch passes and handle physical football. Tom Landry trusted him because he was reliable and rugged.
His rushing touchdown total reflects his role as more than just a complementary back. Garrison helped Dallas finish drives and gave the offense a physical fullback presence during the years when the Cowboys became one of the NFL’s model franchises.
7. Dak Prescott and Robert Newhouse
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: Dak Prescott has 31 rushing touchdowns with Dallas from 2016–present. Robert Newhouse had 31 rushing touchdowns with Dallas from 1972–1983.
The No. 7 spot is another tie, this time between Dak Prescott and Robert Newhouse. It is an interesting pairing because one is a modern franchise quarterback and the other was a tough championship-era fullback/running back.
Prescott’s presence on this list shows how important quarterback rushing has become in the modern NFL. He is not a running back, but Dallas has used his size, strength and mobility near the goal line for years. His rushing touchdowns have been a major part of his value, especially early in his career.
Newhouse reached the same total in a much different way. He was a physical back who could handle short-yardage work, block and contribute in different offensive packages. He also made one of the most memorable plays in Cowboys Super Bowl history when he threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl XII.
Prescott is still active, so this tie could break soon. If he adds even one more rushing touchdown, he will move ahead of Newhouse by himself.
6. Calvin Hill
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1969–1974 with Dallas, 39 rushing touchdowns, 5,009 rushing yards, 1969 Offensive Rookie of the Year, multiple Pro Bowls.
Calvin Hill ranks sixth in Cowboys rushing touchdowns with 39. He was one of the franchise’s first great feature backs and helped set the standard for the running backs who came after him.
Hill was big, smooth and versatile. He could run with power, catch passes and fit into the balanced style Dallas wanted under Tom Landry. He also became the first Cowboys running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
His rushing touchdown total shows how important he was near the goal line. Hill did not play in Dallas as long as Emmitt Smith or Tony Dorsett, but his peak was strong enough to remain high on both the rushing yards and rushing touchdown lists.
5. Don Perkins
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1961–1968 with Dallas, 42 rushing touchdowns, 6,217 rushing yards, 6 Pro Bowls, Cowboys Ring of Honor.
Don Perkins ranks fifth in Cowboys rushing touchdowns with 42. He was one of the first great offensive players in franchise history and gave Dallas a reliable ground game during the early 1960s.
Perkins played before the Cowboys became the national powerhouse they later turned into, which can make him underrated. But his production was excellent for the era, and he helped move Dallas from expansion struggles toward real contention.
His 42 rushing touchdowns remain a major franchise number. Perkins did not have the later dynasty spotlight, but he was one of the players who helped build the Cowboys foundation.
4. Marion Barber
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2005–2010 with Dallas, 47 rushing touchdowns, 4,358 rushing yards, 2007 Pro Bowl.
Marion Barber ranks fourth in Cowboys rushing touchdowns, and this is the stat category that best explains his value. Barber was built for hard yards, goal-line runs and physical finishes.
He ran with violence. Barber did not avoid contact — he searched for it. That made him a fan favorite and one of the most trusted Cowboys players near the end zone.
His 47 rushing touchdowns are especially impressive because he never reached the same yardage totals as Smith, Dorsett or Elliott. Barber’s job was not always to dominate between the 20s. His job was to punish defenders, finish drives and turn short-yardage situations into touchdowns.
3. Ezekiel Elliott
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2016–2022 and 2024 with Dallas, 71 rushing touchdowns, 8,488 rushing yards, 3 Pro Bowls, 2016 First-Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL rushing leader.
Ezekiel Elliott ranks third in Cowboys rushing touchdowns with 71, just one behind Tony Dorsett. That number shows how productive Zeke was during his Dallas prime.
Elliott entered the league in 2016 and immediately became the center of the Cowboys offense. He led the NFL in rushing as a rookie, helped Dallas go 13-3 and gave Dak Prescott a powerful backfield partner from day one.
Zeke’s best years combined volume, power, pass protection and goal-line reliability. He was not just a yardage back; he was a finisher. Dallas trusted him around the end zone, and he delivered often enough to become one of the greatest scoring backs in franchise history.
His second Cowboys stint ended quietly, but his overall Dallas résumé is locked in. Elliott is third in both Cowboys rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
2. Tony Dorsett
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1977–1987 with Dallas, 72 rushing touchdowns, 12,036 rushing yards, Super Bowl XII champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tony Dorsett ranks second in Cowboys rushing touchdowns with 72. He was explosive, smooth and dangerous from the moment he arrived in Dallas.
Dorsett joined a championship-ready team as a rookie and immediately helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII. His speed gave Dallas a home-run rushing threat, and his long-term production made him one of the greatest backs in franchise history.
His 99-yard touchdown run remains one of the most famous plays in NFL history, but Dorsett’s Cowboys legacy is much bigger than that one moment. He was a decade-long star, a Hall of Famer and one of the few players in franchise history who could challenge Emmitt Smith in any running back debate.
In this category, he holds the No. 2 spot by only one touchdown over Ezekiel Elliott.
1. Emmitt Smith
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1990–2002 with Dallas, 153 rushing touchdowns, 17,162 rushing yards, 3 Super Bowl wins, Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Emmitt Smith is the Dallas Cowboys rushing touchdown king. His 153 rushing touchdowns with Dallas are so far ahead of everyone else that this record feels almost untouchable.
Smith was the engine of the 1990s dynasty. Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and the offensive line all mattered, but Smith was the player Dallas trusted to close games and finish drives. He was patient, balanced, tough and almost impossible to deny near the goal line.
His touchdown total is also part of his larger NFL legacy. Smith finished his career as the NFL’s all-time rushing leader and all-time rushing touchdown leader. That combination makes him one of the most productive players the sport has ever seen.
That is why Smith belongs in any serious best running backs of all-time conversation. For the Cowboys rushing touchdown record book, he is not just No. 1 — he is in his own tier.
Full Ranking Table: Top 31 Dallas Cowboys Rushing Touchdown Leaders
Note: This table extends the recap to the top 31 Cowboys rushing touchdown leaders using regular-season rushing touchdowns with Dallas only. The write-ups above stay focused on the top 10, while this table gives the post more player/entity coverage for the full franchise leaderboard.
| Rank | Player | From | To | Pos | G | Att | Rushing Yards | Y/A | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emmitt Smith | 1990 | 2002 | RB | 201 | 4,052 | 17,162 | 4.2 | 153 |
| 2 | Tony Dorsett | 1977 | 1987 | RB | 157 | 2,755 | 12,036 | 4.4 | 72 |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | 2024 | RB | 118 | 1,955 | 8,488 | 4.3 | 71 |
| 4 | Marion Barber III | 2005 | 2010 | RB | 88 | 1,042 | 4,358 | 4.2 | 47 |
| 5 | Don Perkins | 1961 | 1968 | FB | 107 | 1,500 | 6,217 | 4.1 | 42 |
| 6 | Calvin Hill | 1969 | 1974 | RB | 73 | 1,166 | 5,009 | 4.3 | 39 |
| 7 | Robert Newhouse | 1972 | 1983 | RB | 168 | 1,160 | 4,784 | 4.1 | 31 |
| 8 | Dak Prescott | 2016 | 2025 | QB | 139 | 473 | 2,115 | 4.5 | 31 |
| 9 | Walt Garrison | 1966 | 1974 | FB | 119 | 899 | 3,886 | 4.3 | 30 |
| 10 | DeMarco Murray | 2011 | 2014 | RB | 53 | 934 | 4,526 | 4.8 | 28 |
| 11 | Ron Springs | 1979 | 1984 | FB | 88 | 604 | 2,180 | 3.6 | 28 |
| 12 | Herschel Walker | 1986 | 1997 | RB | 81 | 818 | 3,491 | 4.3 | 27 |
| 13 | Dan Reeves | 1965 | 1972 | RB | 100 | 535 | 1,990 | 3.7 | 25 |
| 14 | Tony Pollard | 2019 | 2023 | RB | 79 | 762 | 3,621 | 4.8 | 23 |
| 15 | Roger Staubach | 1969 | 1979 | QB | 131 | 410 | 2,264 | 5.5 | 20 |
| 16 | Timmy Newsome | 1980 | 1988 | RB | 121 | 342 | 1,226 | 3.6 | 19 |
| 17 | Doug Dennison | 1974 | 1978 | RB | 52 | 306 | 1,112 | 3.6 | 19 |
| 18 | Julius Jones | 2004 | 2007 | RB | 53 | 885 | 3,484 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 19 | Duane Thomas | 1970 | 1971 | RB | 25 | 326 | 1,596 | 4.9 | 16 |
| 20 | Don Meredith | 1960 | 1968 | QB | 104 | 242 | 1,216 | 5.0 | 15 |
| 21 | Amos Marsh | 1961 | 1964 | HB | 54 | 427 | 2,065 | 4.8 | 14 |
| 22 | Felix Jones | 2008 | 2012 | RB | 64 | 569 | 2,728 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 23 | Javonte Williams | 2025 | 2025 | RB | 16 | 252 | 1,201 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 24 | Troy Aikman | 1989 | 2000 | QB | 165 | 327 | 1,016 | 3.1 | 9 |
| 25 | Scott Laidlaw | 1975 | 1979 | RB | 67 | 250 | 997 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 26 | Joseph Randle | 2013 | 2015 | RB | 35 | 181 | 822 | 4.5 | 9 |
| 27 | Troy Hambrick | 2000 | 2003 | RB | 51 | 473 | 1,896 | 4.0 | 8 |
| 28 | Tashard Choice | 2008 | 2011 | RB | 54 | 250 | 1,139 | 4.6 | 8 |
| 29 | Chris Warren | 1998 | 2000 | RB | 38 | 217 | 948 | 4.4 | 8 |
| 30 | Daryl Johnston | 1989 | 1999 | FB | 151 | 232 | 753 | 3.2 | 8 |
| 31 | Danny White | 1976 | 1988 | QB | 166 | 159 | 482 | 3.0 | 8 |
FAQ: Most Rushing TDs in Dallas Cowboys History
Who has the most rushing touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys history?
Emmitt Smith has the most rushing touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys history with 153 regular-season rushing touchdowns.
Who is second in Cowboys career rushing touchdowns?
Tony Dorsett is second in Dallas Cowboys career rushing touchdowns with 72.
Who is third in Cowboys career rushing touchdowns?
Ezekiel Elliott is third in Dallas Cowboys career rushing touchdowns with 71.
Why is Dak Prescott on the Cowboys rushing TD list?
Dak Prescott is on the Cowboys rushing touchdown list because quarterback rushing touchdowns count in this category. He has 31 regular-season rushing touchdowns with Dallas and is tied with Robert Newhouse.
Who is tied at 28 rushing touchdowns for the Cowboys?
DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs are tied with 28 regular-season rushing touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys.
Are playoff rushing touchdowns included in this Cowboys ranking?
No. This ranking uses regular-season rushing touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys only.
Is Ezekiel Elliott still on the Dallas Cowboys?
No. Ezekiel Elliott is no longer on the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas released him late in the 2024 season, ending his second stint with the franchise.
Conclusion: Emmitt Smith Still Owns the Cowboys Rushing TD Record
The Most Rushing TDs in Dallas Cowboys History list starts with Emmitt Smith because no other Cowboys player is close. His 153 rushing touchdowns with Dallas are more than double Tony Dorsett’s total and stand as one of the strongest records in franchise history.
Dorsett and Elliott create a tight battle behind him, separated by only one rushing touchdown. Marion Barber’s No. 4 ranking shows how valuable he was as a finisher. Don Perkins and Calvin Hill represent the early Cowboys rushing foundation. Dak Prescott and Robert Newhouse share the No. 7 spot in very different ways. Walt Garrison, DeMarco Murray and Ron Springs round out a list that mixes quarterbacks, halfbacks, fullbacks and franchise icons.
The key thing to remember is that this is a Cowboys-only rushing touchdown list. It is not based on total touchdowns, playoff scores or full-career production with other teams. The order comes from regular-season rushing touchdowns with Dallas, while the write-ups explain why each scorer mattered. Even in a pass-heavy NFL, the Cowboys’ rushing touchdown tradition still starts with Emmitt Smith.
More Cowboys and NFL Rankings
For the full franchise picture beyond rushing touchdowns, check out our best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time ranking and our best Dallas Cowboys running backs of all-time list.
For more Cowboys stat-leader posts, read our Dallas Cowboys all-time rushing yards leaders, Cowboys receiving touchdown leaders and Cowboys receiving yards leaders.
For the bigger NFL picture, check out our best running backs of all-time ranking, our most rushing touchdowns in NFL history list, our all-time player rankings for every NFL franchise and our broader NFL rankings page.
You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.
