Dream Team Project
Dallas Cowboys Dream Team
The all-time Cowboys lineup. Every player listed here actually suited up for the Cowboys, verified against trusted sources. Fans can comment on the roster or nominate a player with a short note.
Selection Ground Rules
Simple guardrails so every team stays consistent and factual.
- Roster shape: fill a real lineup (QB, RB, WRx3, TE, OL, DL, LB, CB, S, K, P, returner, coach).
- Eligibility: player must have played regular-season snaps for this team; no “almost signed” or practice squad only.
- Verification: confirm with at least two sources (team site, Pro Football Reference, official stats) before adding.
- Era balance: include representation across eras when merit exists; don’t ignore pre-2000 seasons.
- Era adjustment: modern players are bigger/faster; judge dominance relative to their era, not raw size/speed inflation.
- Tie-breakers: prioritize team impact, playoff moments, longevity with the team, then league honors.
- Exclude if primary greatness was elsewhere unless their stint here was elite.
How we fact-check
Each player is confirmed with at least two sources (team site, Pro Football Reference, official NFL stats). If unsure, we leave a placeholder instead of guessing.
Quick sanity checks
- • Confirm team tenure and position
- • Note team-specific honors (Pro Bowl, All-Pro, rings)
- • Prefer era balance over recency bias
Curated roster
Locked-in picks from the admin, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Roger Staubach
Hall of Fame QB, led Dallas to two Super Bowl titles and six Pro Bowls.
Super Bowl VI & XII champion; 6× Pro Bowl; NFL 1970s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
RB
Emmitt Smith
NFL all-time rushing leader; central to three Super Bowl wins.
3× Super Bowl champ; NFL MVP 1993; SB XXVIII MVP; 8× Pro Bowl
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
WR
Michael Irvin
Playmaker of the 90s dynasty with consistent clutch production.
3× Super Bowl champ; 5× Pro Bowl; 1st-team All-Pro 1991
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
WR
Drew Pearson
Original “Hail Mary” target and key 70s weapon.
Super Bowl XII champ; 3× Pro Bowl; NFL 1970s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
WR
Dez Bryant
Red-zone force and franchise TD leader for WRs.
3× Pro Bowl; 2014 1st-team All-Pro; 73 rec TD with DAL
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
TE
Jason Witten
Ironman tight end and all-time Cowboys receptions leader.
11× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; Cowboys records for catches and yards by TE
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
LT
Tyron Smith
Cornerstone blindside protector of the 2010s line.
8× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
LG
Larry Allen
Hall of Fame guard with unmatched strength and dominance.
Super Bowl XXX champ; 11× Pro Bowl; 6× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
C
Travis Frederick
Anchor of the elite 2010s OL, technician at center.
5× Pro Bowl; 2016 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
RG
Zack Martin
Perennial All-Pro guard with elite pass and run blocking.
7× 1st-team All-Pro; 9× Pro Bowl
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
RT
Rayfield Wright
Hall of Fame tackle who locked down the right side for 70s titles.
2× Super Bowl champ; 6× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
Defense
11 playersDT
Bob Lilly
Mr. Cowboy—foundational Hall of Fame interior force.
Super Bowl VI champ; 11× Pro Bowl; NFL 1960s/1970s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
DT
Randy White
Manster dominance at defensive tackle for the 70s-80s.
Super Bowl XII co-MVP; 9× Pro Bowl; 7× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
DE
Harvey Martin
Edge rusher who powered the Doomsday defense.
Super Bowl XII co-MVP; 4× Pro Bowl; 1977 Defensive Player of the Year
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
EDGE
DeMarcus Ware
Franchise sack leader and modern pass-rush icon.
7× Pro Bowl with DAL; 4× 1st-team All-Pro; Cowboys sack leader
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
LB
Chuck Howley
Playmaking linebacker and only SB MVP from a losing team.
Super Bowl VI champ; SB V MVP; 6× Pro Bowl
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
LB
Lee Roy Jordan
Defensive captain and tackling machine through the 70s.
Super Bowl VI champ; 5× Pro Bowl
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
LB/EDGE
Micah Parsons
Modern hybrid star with DPOY-level impact.
3× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro; 2021 DROY
Sources: NFL.com; PFR
CB
Deion Sanders
Lockdown corner/return threat who lifted the 90s defense.
Super Bowl XXX champ; 4× Pro Bowl with DAL; 3× 1st-team All-Pro with DAL (1996-1998)
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
CB
Mel Renfro
Ballhawk defensive back with elite versatility.
2× Super Bowl champ; 10× Pro Bowl; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
S
Cliff Harris
Free safety centerpiece of the Doomsday defenses.
2× Super Bowl champ; 6× Pro Bowl; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; PFR
S
Darren Woodson
Leader of the 90s dynasty secondary with versatility.
3× Super Bowl champ; 5× Pro Bowl
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
Dan Bailey
Most accurate kicker in team history at the time.
2015 Pro Bowl; long-time franchise FG leader
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
P
Mat McBriar
Two-time Pro Bowl punter with top-tier net averages.
2× Pro Bowl; 2006 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Cowboys.com; PFR
RET
Mel Renfro
Early-career return ace before moving full-time to defense.
Led NFL in kick return yards 1964; 2 return TDs
Sources: PFR
COACH
Tom Landry
Architect of the franchise, two Super Bowls and 20 straight winning seasons.
Super Bowls VI & XII champion head coach; NFL 1970s All-Decade coach
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame
Add a comment or suggest a player
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Fan picks
Suggestions from the community. We’ll review and move worthy picks into the curated roster.
Suggested
Tom Landry
From Anonymous
Discussion
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