Hello, readers and welcome back to Part VI of my All-Century Dallas Cowboys team.
We’ve already spotlighted the skill players, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, and most recently, the secondary.
Now we turn our attention to a group of specialists who often get overlooked, but whose contributions over the past 25 years have been vital to the Dallas Cowboys’ success.
This is the sixth installment of my All-Century Cowboys Team, a series focused strictly on players from 2000 to 2024.
That means current roster members aren’t eligible, and while a few names from the end of the ‘90s dynasty may have technically played into the early 2000s, this list prioritizes those whose impact came after the new millennium.
The special teams unit may not get the fanfare that stars on offense or defense do, but consistent production in the kicking game can often mean the difference between winning and losing.
This group includes a kicker, punter, long snapper, and return specialist, all of whom delivered excellence in their roles.
Kicker
Dan Bailey (2011-2017)
For several years, Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and easily the most dependable leg the Cowboys have ever had.
His 86.6% field goal percentage still stands tall in team record books, and he was clutch from distance, nailing 27 kicks from 50 yards or longer in a Dallas uniform.
Whether it was a routine 33-yarder or a pressure-packed attempt with the game on the line, Bailey rarely flinched.
He also earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2015 and provided steady scoring during both the Tony Romo and early Dak Prescott eras.
Punter
Mat McBriar (2005-2014)
An Australian import with a booming leg, Mat McBriar became a 2x Pro Bowler and one of the most effective punters in Cowboys history.
He led the NFL in punting average in both 2006 and 2010 and was consistently able to flip field position with towering hangtime and precise placement.
McBriar had six seasons averaging 45.0 yards or more per punt and was a reliable weapon in the hidden-yardage battle every Sunday.
Return Specialist
Dwayne Harris (2011-2015)
Whether it was fielding punts or bringing back kickoffs, Dwayne Harris was a live wire.
He averaged 26.5 yards per kickoff return and 11.1 per punt return during his Dallas tenure, scoring multiple special teams touchdowns and even adding the occasional big block or tackle on coverage units.
His 78-yard punt return touchdown against the Giants in 2013 remains one of the most electrifying special teams plays in recent memory.
A true tone-setter, Harris brought toughness and energy every time he took the field.
Line Specialist
L.P. Ladouceur (2005-2020)
Arguably the most underappreciated model of consistency in franchise history, L.P. Ladouceur handled long-snapping duties for 16 seasons without a single botched snap.
That kind of perfection over hundreds of games is nearly unheard of. His chemistry with Bailey, McBriar, and later Chris Jones, helped stabilize the Cowboys’ kicking game for over a decade and a half.
He may not have drawn headlines, but within the building, his dependability was gold.
Up Next: Coaches
I liked Dwayne Harris, but I think KaVontae Turpin should be the one there!! His 99 yard return last season against Washington is better than the 78 yarder from Harris!! And I think his averages are better too!! And he still fits in your timeline too!!
And for the punter I would have Bryan Anger!! I liked McBriar, but I think Anger is better, and he’s also in your timeline!!
And I like Dan Bailey, and I’ll probably agree with your choice there, but I have to say that Brandon Aubrey is pretty close to him if not better!! Aubrey definitely has a bigger leg, and he showed that with the 66 yarder he made!! And he’s probably more accurate so far, and he showed that too with his NFL record 35 straight made field goals to start his career!! And he’s been on the team a few years, so he fits in your timeline too!! But it’s really hard to go against Dan Bailey, so for now, I’m gonna agree with Bailey!! But that mite change after another season or two if Aubrey keeps it up!!
As far as long snappers go, there’s no doubt that L.P. Is the best we’ve ever had!! The one we have now has been doing really good, but he’s not L.P.!! But one thing you got wrong about L.P. Ladouceur is the no penalty part!! He got called for one penalty before against Washington and it cost us the game!! But the problem with that penalty is that it shouldn’t have ever been called!! It was a bull crap call by the refs!! L.P. said he didn’t understand why they called the penalty cause he didn’t do anything any different than he did in his whole career and has never been called for it!! So either the refs just made a mistake, or they were paid off to call something, or the game is rigged and they had to call something to make the game end the way they wanted to!! Either way, that penalty shouldn’t have ever been called!!
And one more thing is that you said players from 2000 to 2024, but then said players not currently on the roster!! If that’s the case then this should be players from 2000 till 2015, cause it don’t make any sense to say players till 2024 and then say you can’t put players on this list that’s on the current roster!! If it’s truly from 2000 till 2024 then it should include players currently on the roster cause they were on the team in 2024 and before!! It don’t make sense to have your timeline set from 2000 till 2024 if you can’t put players that was on the team in 2024!!
But that’s my opinion on who I would have on my special teams!!
Appreciate the feedback! While I understand you want to include players from this timeline, I made the “no current players” rule for a reason. It would be too easy to include guys whose legacy is not yet complete! It still works, though. For example, both DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin made the team. The last year they played? You guessed it: 2024.