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Legends of the Hall: Dallas Cowboys in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

These 22 Cowboys icons have received the highest honor possible for an NFL career.

With the addition of linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Chuck Howley in 2023, there are now 22 people with busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame based on their accomplishments with the Dallas Cowboys. Below is a recap of the career accomplishments for each of these Cowboys legends:

(Editor’s note: Other Hall of Famers have appeared for the Cowboys, but these players spent the bulk of their careers with Dallas.)

Bob Lilly, defensive tackle (1961-1974)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 2, 1980

Number: 74

Birthdate: July 26, 1939

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Birthplace: Olney, Texas

College: TCU

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About: “Mr. Cowboy” was the first player drafted in franchise history -- and perhaps the finest. He was named a first-team All-Pro selection seven times and a Pro Bowler on 11 occasions. Decades later, no Cowboys player has exceeded either of those accolade totals.

Defining moment: Lilly often carried a camera where he went. Fittingly, the “Doomsday” defender provided one of the most lasting images in club history when dropping Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese for a 29-yard sack in Super Bowl VI, helping lead the organization to its evasive first title.

Quotable: “We played for fun, because we loved the game. We probably could have made as much if we gave it up and got a job coaching.”

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Roger Staubach, quarterback (1969-1979)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 3, 1985

Number: 12

Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1942

Birthplace: Cincinnati

College: U.S. Naval Academy

About: Following military service that included a Vietnam tour of duty, the former Heisman Trophy winner entered the NFL as a 29-year-old rookie. He claimed the starting job during his third season. From there, “Captain America” was off to one Super Bowl MVP award, two team titles, six Pro Bowls and a sterling, for his era, 83.4 career passer rating.

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Defining moment: Staubach had a flair for late-game theatrics. During the 1975 playoffs, he entered “Hail Mary” into the football lexicon upon completing a late 50-yard touchdown to Drew Pearson. Staubach told reporters that he said a “Hail Mary” prayer after releasing the pass.

Quotable: “The only thing I forgot were God and my parents.” -- Staubach on being nervous during his induction speech.

Tom Landry, coach (1960-1988)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 4, 1990

Birthdate: Sept. 11, 1924

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Birthplace: Mission, Texas

College: Texas

Died: Feb. 12, 2000

About: Dressed in a suit, tie and fedora, the innovator of the “4-3″ defense guided the Cowboys to an NFL-record 20 straight winning seasons from 1966 to 1985. His consecutive 29-year tenure with a single franchise is also a league record. He was the first head coach in team history.

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Defining moment: More than just one moment defined Landry as head coach. Consistency did, behind his principles of family, faith and football. In Super Bowl VI on Jan. 12, 1972, Landry overcame the hump as a head coach, proving he could win the big game in the 24-3 win over Miami in New Orleans.

Quotable: “I just hope when it’s all over that I’ve helped some people have a better life because they’ve known me somewhere along the way. I don’t care if I’m in the Hall of Fame or whether I’m remembered for any reason other than that.”

Tex Schramm, president/GM (1960-1988)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: July 27, 1991

Birthdate: June 2, 1920

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Birthplace: San Gabriel, Calif.

College: Texas

Died: July 15, 2003

About: Schramm hired Tom Landry and chief scout Gil Brandt. He founded the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. He helped coordinate the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. He oversaw significant rule changes as head of the NFL’s competition committee. What would the Cowboys be without Schramm? What would the NFL be?

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Defining moment: Schramm indelibly engineered the groundwork for the Cowboys with his Landry and Brandt hirings. The trio worked together for 29 seasons leading up to Jerry Jones’ purchase of the franchise.

Quotable: “I wasn’t a great athlete like these men behind me. It’s really humbling, and I’m humble, and my associates and friends will say that’s not a major part of my personality.”

Tony Dorsett, running back (1977-1987)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: July 30, 1994

Number: 33

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Birthdate: April 7, 1954

Birthplace: Rochester, Pa.

College: Pittsburgh

About: Dorsett became the first player to win a college football national championship and Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. If not for the strike-shortened 1982 campaign, Dorsett probably would have begun his NFL career with nine straight years of at least 1,000 rushing yards.

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Defining moment: The Cowboys’ offense had 10 men on the field - short a fullback - when backed up at their own 1-yard line against the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 3, 1983. No matter. Dorsett showcased his explosiveness and elusiveness on a 99-yard touchdown run. The Monday Night Football rumble stood as the only 99-yard run in NFL history until 2018.

Quotable: “At 183 pounds, you’re not supposed to be able to take the pounding that running backs take in the National Football League, but I outlasted a lot of bigger guys and I will always be proud of that and what I accomplished.”

Randy White, defensive tackle (1975-1988)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: July 30, 1994

Number: 54

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Birthdate: Jan. 15, 1953

Birthplace: Pittsburgh

College: Maryland

About: Nicknamed “The Manster” as half man, half monster, only White can match Bob Lilly as a Cowboys player with seven first-team All-Pro selections. Dallas so happened to acquire the relentless White in the ensuing draft after Lilly’s retirement. White played linebacker to begin his career before a 1977 switch to Lilly’s old position.

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Defining moment: White’s motor, physicality, hand usage and explosion made him a highly disruptive interior presence. Each trait was displayed in Super Bowl XII when he recorded a sack and helped force an interception to earn co-MVP recognition against the Denver Broncos.

Quotable: “On game day, you could just turn it loose. Instead of putting you in jail, they said you did good.”

Mel Renfro, defensive back (1964-1977)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: July 27, 1996

Number: 20

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Birthdate: Dec. 30, 1941

Birthplace: Houston

College: Oregon

About: The former track star is the Cowboys’ all-time interceptions leader with 52. His elite athleticism enabled coach Tom Landry to be creative, tinkering with him at returner and briefly at running back. Eventually, Renfro moved from safety to cornerback. He posted a league-high 10 interceptions in 1969.

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Defining moment: Renfro’s interception on a John Brodie deep ball in the 1970 NFC Championship Game set up what amounted to the game-winning touchdown, helping lift the Cowboys over the San Francisco 49ers and clinch their first Super Bowl appearance.

Quotable: “There were times when we couldn’t even venture out of our homes, that we couldn’t even go to the grocery store.” Renfro on fans disappointed by a string of playoff losses in the 1960s

Troy Aikman, quarterback (1989-2000)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 5, 2006

Number: 8

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Birthdate: Nov. 21, 1966

Birthplace: West Covina, Calif.

Colleges: Oklahoma, UCLA

About: Aikman was the straw that stirred the drink to the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. The highly accurate passer exuded a steady demeanor while becoming, at the time, the franchise’s all-time leader with 32,942 passing yards.

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Defining moment: While Aikman was a decorated winner in the NFL, a loss perhaps was most revealing. He weathered two first-quarter interceptions in the 1994 NFC Championship Game, each of which led to a touchdown, and an early 21-0 deficit to throw for 380 yards and two scores. Dallas lost 38-28 in San Francisco but won the Super Bowl the next year.

Quotable: “I never felt any statistic was more important than the final score.”

Rayfield Wright, right tackle (1967-1979)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 5, 2006

Number: 70

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Birthdate: Aug. 23, 1945

Birthplace: Griffin, Ga.

College: Fort Valley State

Died: April 7, 2022

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About: A college basketball star, Wright hardly boasted the prototypical body type of NFL offensive tackles today. He entered the league as a nimble 225-pound tight end. “Big Cat” also played some defensive end before Tom Landry switched him to right tackle. That stuck with a string of six Pro Bowls from 1971 to 1976.

Defining moment: In 1969, Wright made his first NFL start on the offensive line against fierce Los Angeles Rams defensive end Deacon Jones. His ability to withstand the matchup foretold the potential Wright realized.

Quotable: “Fear? I fear no man.”

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Michael Irvin, wide receiver (1988-1999)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 4, 2007

Number: 88

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Birthdate: March 5, 1966

Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

College: Miami (Fla.)

About: Irvin injected energy and swagger into the Cowboys upon arrival. He earned his “Playmaker” moniker with an intense work ethic and lofty production, compiling the three top receiving seasons in franchise history (1,603 yards in 1995, 1,523 yards in 1991 and 1,396 yards in 1992).

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Defining moment: None of the bravado or off-the-field issues can confuse who Irvin was between the lines. At his core, Irvin was a competitor. He overcame a first-quarter lost fumble in the 1994 NFC Championship Game to post 12 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns against a Deion Sanders-led 49ers defense.

Quotable: “The only one who can cover me one-on-one is my jersey.”

Bob Hayes, wide receiver (1965-1974)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 8, 2009

Number: 22

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Birthdate: Dec. 20, 1942

Birthplace: Jacksonville, Fla.

College: Florida A&M

Died: Sept. 18, 2002

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About: A two-time Olympic gold medalist, “Bullet” Bob Hayes is the only person to win both a gold medal and a Super Bowl. The sprinter led the league with 12 and 13 receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons, respectively, and 26.1 and 24.0 yards per reception in 1970 and 1971. He also was a sensational punt returner.

Defining moment: Hayes is responsible for the longest reception in Cowboys history, a 95-yard touchdown from Don Meredith against the Washington Redskins on Nov. 13, 1966. That was one part of a banner game. He caught a 53-yard score, too, while posting nine receptions for 246 yards in a 31-30 win.

Quotable: “I’ve been blessed by the grace of God to win two Olympic gold medals and then play football for the world’s greatest professional sports organization in history.”

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Emmitt Smith, running back (1990-2002)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 7, 2010

Number: 22

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Birthdate: May 15, 1969

Birthplace: Pensacola, Fla.

College: Florida

About: A number of Cowboys greats achieved records. Some marks still stand. Others don’t. The steady greatness from Smith’s career will prove difficult to match. With exemplary vision, elite contact balance and an economical north-south running style, the workhorse is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 4,409 carries for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns.

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Defining moment: On Jan. 2, 1994, Smith separated his right shoulder in the first half against the New York Giants. He still carried the Cowboys, rushing 32 times for 168 yards with 10 catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. The 17-14 overtime win clinched Dallas the NFC East and home-field advantage en route to a second straight Super Bowl title.

Quotable: “At the age of 21, I already knew what I needed to do in order to make my mark in history. I wanted to become the all-time leading rusher. Period.”

Deion Sanders, cornerback/wide receiver (1995-1999)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 6, 2011

Number: 21

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Birthdate: Aug. 9, 1967

Birthplace: Fort Myers, Fla.

College: Florida State

About: In a blockbuster 1995 free agency move, the multisport and multiposition star Sanders switched from the defending Super Bowl champion 49ers to the NFC runner-up Cowboys. He helped Dallas overcome its rival and win a Super Bowl in his first season with the club.

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Defining moment: “Prime Time” had his share of highlights in 14 years with five NFL clubs. For the Cowboys, his versatile playmaking showed in Super Bowl XXX when he started on defense and caught a 47-yard pass on offense. It was the longest reception of the 27-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quotable: “I heard some of the Hall of Famers say I would never really have dreamed like this. I’m sorry. I did. I expect to be great. I expect to do what hadn’t been done.”

Larry Allen, offensive lineman (1994-2005)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 3, 2013

Number: 73

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Birthdate: Nov. 27, 1971

Birthplace: Los Angeles

College: Sonoma State

About: Allen was a bear in a telephone booth for 12 seasons in Dallas, the 700-pound bench presser mauling defenders. The guard/tackle’s 10 Pro Bowl selections are more than any other offensive lineman in Cowboys history.

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Defining moment: Where there was Emmitt Smith dashing through holes, there often was Allen clearing a path. He blocked on eight of Smith’s 11 career 1,000-yard seasons as a member of the NFL’s 1990s and 2000s All-Decade teams.

Quotable: “I just wanted to make the other guy give up.”

Charles Haley, defensive end (1992-1996)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 8, 2015

Number: 94

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Birthdate: Jan. 6, 1964

Birthplace: Gladys, Va.

College: James Madison

About: Haley bounced between the top two NFL powerhouses of the 1990s. Because of that, he became the first player in league history to win five Super Bowls. The edge rusher elevated the Cowboys’ defense into a championship contender, recording 34 of his 100 1/2 career sacks and three titles with the club. The rest came with the 49ers.

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Defining moment: Haley was known as much for his volatile temperament as he was his onfield dominance. In 1993, following a Week 2 loss during Emmitt Smith’s holdout, he swung his helmet into a locker room wall, creating a sizable hole. The holdout ended days later.

Quotable: “I used to tell kids there are only two things that people can’t take away from you -- your faith and education. For me, it’s now three -- my faith, my education and the Hall of Fame, bay-bee.”

Jerry Jones, owner/president/general manager (1989-present)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 5, 2017

Birthdate: Oct. 13, 1942

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Birthplace: Inglewood, Calif.

College: Arkansas

About: Among the most influential team owners in sports, Jones guided not only the development of AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the Star in Frisco but has pushed for the growth of facilities and brands across the NFL. He inherited the top overall draft pick in 1989. With the Troy Aikman selection and Herschel Walker trade, Jones oversaw a rebuild that soon produced three Super Bowls in a four-year span.

Defining moment: Jones’ hiring and firing of Jimmy Johnson as head coach were two of his most momentous decisions. The 1989 hiring proved fortuitous - although it involved a brash handling of legend Tom Landry’s dismissal. The early 1994 firing, which directly followed a Super Bowl win, came after Jones and Johnson’s relationship frayed.

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Quotable: “It just feels almost unfair to have spent almost 30 years in the NFL and had as much fun as I have had with the players and have as many great experiences and still get to be part of something like this. I have experienced some wonderful things, and this is right there with the very best.’’

Gil Brandt, vice president of player personnel (1960-1988)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 3, 2019

Birthdate: March 4, 1933

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Birthplace: Milwaukee

College: Wisconsin

About: A venerable pioneer in NFL scouting, Brandt was the astute eye of the Cowboys for nearly three decades. Fifteen of the 19 players in the franchise’s Ring of Honor were acquired under his watch. He helped centralize how players are evaluated before the draft, influencing the creation and development of the NFL combine as a signature offseason event.

Defining moment: Brandt showed a continual willingness to embrace novel principles and practices. This including zigging as the rest of the NFL zagged by looking at other sports - track star Bob Hayes and basketball star Rayfield Wright were seventh-round picks - and countries for talent.

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Quotable: “It was very professionally fulfilling for me that many of the traits we identified as scouting metrics and landmarks in the early days have been used by the greatest football coaches, scouts and evaluators of the current generation.”

Jimmy Johnson, head coach (1989-1993)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 7, 2021

Birthdate: July 16, 1943

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Birthplace: Port Arthur

College: Arkansas

About: A former college teammate of Jerry Jones, Johnson left the University of Miami to accept a 10-year contract and help architect the franchise’s resurgence. His energy, motivational skills and disciplinary style served as the battery to consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

Defining moment: In many forms, Johnson exhibited conviction as Cowboys coach. This was reflected when engineering an unpopular but landmark Herschel Walker trade and sequence of tangential moves that followed. The success of Johnson’s roster-molding maneuvers rested not only in leveraging Walker for draft picks but making those picks count with Johnson’s player evaluation ability.

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Quotable: “I always thought I would get in but I never knew when. I never would have guessed it happened like it did.” -- Johnson on being surprised on the Fox set by Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker

Cliff Harris, safety (1970-1979)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 7, 2021

Number: 43

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Birthdate: Nov. 12, 1948

Birthplace: Fayetteville, Ark.

College: Ouachita Baptist

About: “Captain Crash” produced a decade of collisions in Dallas while recording multiple interceptions each year. A six-time Pro Bowler who appeared in five Super Bowls and nine playoff campaigns, Harris is considered one of the greatest players to go undrafted in league history.

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Defining moment: Harris earned a starting job as a rookie but vacated the role to fulfill a military obligation. He returned in time for the next season, helping the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl title.

Quotable: “How does a kid from a small D-2 school make it to five Super Bowls and the Hall of Fame? I may be the only one who truly knows how slim that chance was.’’

Drew Pearson, wide receiver (1973-1983)

(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Induction date: Aug. 8, 2021

Number: 88

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Birthdate: Jan. 12, 1951

Birthplace: South River, N.J.

College: Tulsa

About: Pearson signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1973 (the NFL draft was 17 rounds at the time). He was the all-time franchise leader in catches (489) and receiving yards (7,822) when he suffered a liver injury in a car accident in March 1984 that brought an end to his career. He made the All-Pro team three of his first five years in the league and led the Cowboys in receptions and receiving yards in four consecutive seasons (’74-77). He was one of six Cowboys named to the NFL’s all-decade team for the ‘70s.

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Defining moment: On Dec. 28, 1975, Pearson combined with quarterback Roger Staubach to complete the “Hail Mary,” one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. Trailing 14-10 in the closing moments of a divisional playoff game in Minnesota, Pearson was on the receiving end of the 50-yard pass from Staubach that gave the Cowboys a 17-14 victory. It was one of many plays that earned Pearson the nickname “Mr. Clutch.”

Quotable: “I got cuts. I got scars. I owned all of that. Because they are all my mistakes. I did it my way, and I did it the hard way.”

DeMarcus Ware, linebacker (2005-2016)

Enshrinement date: Aug. 5, 2023

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Number: 94

Birthdate: July 31, 1982

Birthplace: Auburn, Ala.

College: Troy

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Notable: Ware led the league in sacks twice with 20 (2008) and 15.5 (2010). He led the Cowboys in sacks in eight seasons and his 117 in a Dallas uniform are the most in franchise history. By the time his career was done, Ware had 138.5 sacks and a spot on the prestigious All-Decade team for the 2000s.

Defining moment: He never appeared in the Super Bowl during his time with the Cowboys. But he finished his career in Denver where he had two sacks and four quarterback hits in the Broncos’ 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50.

Quotable: “At first, I never really looked at stats. I just played. I put my head down at the plow. Then I started looking at dang, you got 100 sacks real fast. You were No. 2 behind Reggie White. Then making the All-Decade team, the Dick Butkus award …”

Chuck Howley, linebacker (1958-1973)

Enshrinement date: Aug. 5, 2023

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Number: 54

Birthdate: June 28, 1936

Birthplace: Wheeling, W. Va.

College: West Virginia

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Notable: The bulk of his NFL career — 13 of 15 seasons — was spent in Dallas. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times and was honored as first-team All-Pro five times. The year after earning the MVP trophy in a loss to Baltimore, Howley was a key part of a Cowboys team that picked up the first of five Super Bowl titles with a win over Miami.

Defining moment: He remains the only athlete in Super Bowl history to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player while playing for a losing team. He had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the Cowboys’ 16-13 loss to Baltimore in Super Bowl V.

Quotable: “I just hope I can be considered the best at my position. I gave what I could. You look back on life and think ‘was there more I could have done?’ I don’t know that I could have.”

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