Sports Illustrated has compiled a list of the 101 greatest NFL players by jersey number, with five Dallas Cowboys making the cut as the greatest player to wear his given number. Well, six, kind of.
Troy Aikman (no.8), Deion Sanders (no.21), Emmitt Smith (no. 22), Daryl Johnston (no.48) and Randy White (no.54) were the distinguished five, making the Cowboys’ the fourth best represented team on SI’s list, behind the Bears (nine), Steelers (eight) and Forty-Niners (six). However, Mike Ditka, who won Super Bowls with the Cowboys as a player and an assistant under Tom Landry made the list at no. 89 but, for obvious reasons, he is listed as a Bear.
Running back Tony Dorsett was named as the runner-up at no. 33, losing out to Sammy Baugh. At no. 72, Ed “Too Tall” Jones was named the runner-up to six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Dan Dierdorf, and Bob Lilly to Merlin Olsen at no. 74.
Erik Williams was deemed the second best player to play under no. 79, the best being, in their estimation, longtime Giants’ tackle Rosey Brown.
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