The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most iconic franchises in NFL history, boasting a legacy built on championships, Hall of Fame inductees, and unforgettable moments.
From the Doomsday Defense to the dominant dynasty of the 1990s, the Cowboys have been home to some of the league’s greatest players.
But what if you could build the ultimate Dallas Cowboys team, filling every position with the best ever to wear the star?
This all-time Cowboys roster features starters and backups across the board—the legends who defined generations and the elite players who shaped the identity of America’s Team.
Offense: Built for Power, Precision, and Points
Quarterback
- Starter: Roger Staubach
“Captain Comeback” was a two-time Super Bowl champion, six-time Pro Bowler, and the heart of the Cowboys in the ’70s. His leadership, mobility, and clutch performance made him the prototype for the modern dual-threat QB.
- Backup: Troy Aikman
Three-time Super Bowl winner and Hall of Famer. Aikman was a calm, precise passer who led the ’90s dynasty with poise.
Running Back
- Starter: Emmitt Smith
The NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Smith, totaled 18,355 rushing yards, 164 rushing touchdowns, and three Super Bowl titles. His vision, toughness, and consistency make him the ultimate back.
- Backup: Tony Dorsett
A Heisman winner turned Hall of Famer, Dorsett brought speed and explosiveness, racking up 12,000 rushing yards and the legendary 99-yard touchdown run.
Fullback
- Starter: Daryl “Moose” Johnston
The unsung hero of the 1990s offense. Johnston was a devastating blocker and fan favorite, instrumental in Emmitt Smith’s success.
Wide Receivers
- WR1 Starter: Michael Irvin
The emotional leader of the ’90s. A Hall of Famer with five 1,000-yard seasons and a legacy of clutch catches in big games.
- WR2 Starter: Drew Pearson
“Mr. Clutch” came up big in the biggest moments, with multiple All-Pro selections and a Hall of Fame nod.
- WR3 Starter: Dez Bryant
The Cowboys’ all-time leader in receiving touchdowns. Bryant’s physicality, highlight catches, and fiery attitude made him a dominant WR1 for years.
- Backups: Bob Hayes, CeeDee Lamb
“Bullet Bob” Hayes changed the game with Olympic speed, while Lamb is already one of the most productive and dynamic WRs in franchise history.
Tight End
- Starter: Jason Witten
With 13,046 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns, Witten was the definition of dependability and toughness. A Cowboys legend on and off the field.
- Backup: Jay Novacek
Aikman’s safety valve during the ’90s run. Novacek had five straight Pro Bowls and big playoff performances.
Offensive Line
- Left Tackle: Tyron Smith
Nine-time Pro Bowler and blindside protector extraordinaire. Tyron’s combination of strength and athleticism defined the 2010s.
- Left Guard: Larry Allen
Possibly the most powerful and dominant offensive lineman in NFL history. A Hall of Famer and 11-time Pro Bowler, Allen could overpower anyone in the NFL.
- Center: Mark Stepnoski
A five-time Pro Bowler known for his intelligence and agility, key to the ’90s offensive line.
- Right Guard: Zack Martin
A modern Hall of Fame lock with nine Pro Bowls in his first 10 seasons. A rare blend of technique, consistency, and dominance.
- Right Tackle: Rayfield Wright
Hall of Famer and stalwart of the ’70s dynasty. “Big Cat” was a two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro-Bowler.
- Backups: Erik Williams (T), Nate Newton (G), Travis Frederick (C)
Williams was feared by defensive ends; Newton helped pave the way for Emmitt; Frederick was a five-time Pro Bowler.
Defense: Legendary at Every Level
Defensive Ends
- Starters: DeMarcus Ware & Harvey Martin
Ware is the franchise’s all-time sack leader with 117; Martin was the 1977 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP.
- Backups: Ed “Too Tall” Jones & Charles Haley
Jones dominated with length and strength, while Haley’s 100.5 career sacks and five Super Bowl rings speak for themselves.
Defensive Tackles
- Bob Lilly & Randy White
Lilly—the original Cowboy and Hall of Fame anchor. White—”The Manster,” Super Bowl MVP and relentless interior disruptor.
- Backups: Leon Lett & Jethro Pugh
Lett was dominant when focused. Pugh was a staple on the Doomsday line.
Linebackers
- OLB: Chuck Howley
Six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP with 25 interceptions and endless range.
- MLB: Lee Roy Jordan
A tackling machine with leadership skills that anchored the defense in the ’60s and ’70s.
- OLB: Micah Parsons
A sack-getting master who hasn’t even entered his prime. Parsons, in his young career, is on pace to destroy the Cowboys’ all-time sack record.
- Backups: Dexter Coakley, Sean Lee, Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson
Coakley was fast and instinctive; Lee was a film-room junkie genius and tackling savant; Henderson brought speed and swag.
Cornerbacks
- Starters: Deion Sanders & Mel Renfro
“Prime Time” was a lockdown corner and an electric return man. Renfro had 52 interceptions and elite range.
- Backups: Everson Walls & Trevon Diggs
Walls led the NFL in interceptions three times. Diggs has the best ball skills of any recent Cowboys CB.
Safeties
- Free Safety: Cliff Harris
“Captain Crash” was a fierce hitter and six-time Pro Bowler.
- Strong Safety: Darren Woodson
Three-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro Bowler, and the Cowboys’ all-time tackle leader.
- Backup: Roy Williams
Feared across the middle and a big-play machine in his prime.
Special Teams: Elite in Every Phase
- Kicker: Dan Bailey
One of the most accurate kickers in NFL History during his prime.
- Punter: Mat McBriar
Two-Time Pro Bowler with elite hang time and directional skill.
- Kick/Punt Returner: Deion Sanders
Deadly in space. Could change a game in one return.
A Team of Immortals
This ultimate Dallas Cowboys team is more than just a fantasy lineup—it’s a tribute to one of the most legendary franchises in all of sports.
From Emmitt to Irvin, Lilly to Deion, and Staubach to Ware, every player on this roster helped build the star into what it is today: a symbol of greatness.
With this mix of Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, and generational talents, this team would not only dominate any era—it would define it.
Good list with one small change in my book, Ed Jones is a starter over Martin.
Pretty good list!! The only changes I would make is I would have Ceedee starting over Dez!! And at the LB position, I think I would have Ken Norton and Dat Nguyen on the list!! I would probably start Ken Norton over Lee Roy Jordan and Dat Nguyen be the backup over Thomas Henderson!! It’s a really tough one to call though!! I guess I could put Nguyen in over Parsons too, and put Parsons at defensive end!! So yeah, I think my starters would be Chuck Howley, Ken Norton and Dat Nguyen and have Dexter Coakley, Sean Lee and Lee Roy Jordan as my backups!! And one more thing I would change is I would have either Charles Haley or too tall Jones as my starter over Harvey Martin!! And with me switching Parsons to edge to put Nguyen and Norton in as starters, I would have Harvey Martin off the list completely unfortunately since you only have 4 of them, I’ll keep 4, so I guess I would have…. This one is tough too…. I guess I would have Charles Haley and DeMarcus Ware as my starters cause I think they would be a better pairing than too tall and Ware, so Ware and Haley are the starters and Ed “too tall” Jones and Micah Parsons will be the backups!! And that’s about all I would change!! Although I think Nate Newton and Erik Williams should be starters, but it’s hard to argue over Tyron Smith and Zack Martin mostly in their prime!! But I wouldn’t be mad with either set being starters, since they all were so good!! That’s why I didn’t change anything with that!! But one more thing I would change now that I think about it is I would have Troy Aikman as the starter and Roger Staubach as the backup just because Aikman has more Super Bowl wins with his team!! But even that is a close one!! But the things I would change for sure is the first 3 things I mentioned with Ceedee and Dez, and then the LB position and the defensive end position!! These last 2 with the offensive linemen and the QB I can go with, but I would have to change the other 3 for sure!!
White was a better punter than Matt McBriar.
In no place on this planet is Charles Hayley a back-up, and I am sorry “the manster” is not better than “the big cat” except for maybe 3 bonehead plays. The rest of it is debatable.
Dallas SUCKS ! The whole organization has become a laughing stock full of thugs! Let’s go EAGLES!
Get back with us when you’re the winningest franchise in NFL history, and 5 SB trophies there Ed.
Until then, Dallas still owns you.
Dallas is 74-58 against Phhily.
71-57 regular season, 3-1 playoffs.
I’ve never heard of the punter?
In the category of unsung heros and fullback, not to say I disagree with the Moose Johnson pick, let’s not forget about the contributions of Robert Newsome with this.
Let’s not forget Robert Newhouse in the unsung heroes and fullback for the 70″s along with Moose for the 90’s.
“Thunder” Dan Bailey over Brandon Aubrey, no.
Only one I’d replace is Roy Williams. Has to be Charlie Waters.
Biggest mistakes here are omitting Cornell Green, Bob Breunig, and Tony Hill. I’ve maintained an All Time Cowboys team with a full 53 man roster and 16 man practice squad for decades (numbers based on whatever the current rules are), updating it occasionally. I only include primary Cowboys because guys like Charles Haley and Terrell Owens would play for the 49ers in the All Time league (Dallas still has the best team). I also don’t include current players because their legacies are still in flux. CD Lamb has potential but hasn’t earned it yet. I dreamed about putting Micah Parsons at starting strongside LB some day too, but unfortunately they seem determined to make him just another DE. See what I mean? Only retired players. Clean list. Apples to apples.
But given what you’re doing your list is mostly good, apart from the snubs I listed higher. Better than some others I’ve seen.
a Dallas Cowboys games since the 70’s those was the good old days when the Cowboys was a force so now after Jerry Jones is the terrible owner and terrible G.M. after he fired Jimmy Johnson the Cowboys is a joke and everything is going down hill and all the sports media groups don’t want to tell the truth because Jerry Jones is paying them