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
Keep it respectful. Suggestions need a player name + position (reason optional, but helpful).
Fan picks
Suggestions from the community. We’ll review and move worthy picks into the curated roster.
Suggested
Micah Parsons
best all around defensive player they ever had! curiousity, is rodger stallbach really the best qb dallas ever had, what about troy aikmen? is he chopped liver?
From micah parsons
Suggested
Tom Landry
From Anonymous
Discussion
General feedback on the roster.
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