One of the holy grails inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is what’s above the field: Names of legends who proudly wore the star for the Dallas Cowboys.
On Saturday, two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Jimmy Johnson will get his long-awaited name written across the ring of honor. But who will Johnson be joining? Here’s a look.
List of Cowboys Legends in the Ring of Honor
Outside of Johnson, there are 22 different names emblazoned above the field. These Cowboys were responsible for shattering franchise and league records, but most also brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Dallas.
Here’s who comprises the famed Cowboys Ring of Honor:
- “Bullet” Bob Hayes: Nicknamed the “world’s fastest human,” Hayes helped transform the wide receiver position by proving he could go from track and field star to NFL legend. Hayes played for Dallas from 1964-1975. He passed away on Sept. 19, 2002.
- Bob Lilly: Best known as “Mr. Cowboy,” Lilly was the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. He was also the Cowboys’ first Ring of Honor member in 1975, then the first Hall of Fame inductee in 1980. Lilly is known for being an integral part of the “Doomsday Defense.”
- Charles Haley: Another stalwart for some legendary Cowboy defenses, the pass rusher played a big part in the 1990s run of Super Bowl wins.
- Chuck Howley: Once part of a major trade with the Chicago Bears, Howley became an instant impact player for Dallas — even becoming the only player in Super Bowl history to win the game’s Most Valuable Player trophy despite his team being on the losing end.
- Cliff Harris: The safety starred for Dallas from 1970-1979. Harris played in five Super Bowls, including being on the franchise’s first-ever championship team.
- Darren Woodson: Like Haley, Woodson played a pivotal role in the Dallas defenses of the 1990s. The hard-hitting safety was a four-time All-Pro and played his entire career with the Cowboys.
- Don Meredith: One of the first iconic quarterbacks for Dallas. Meredith played 1960-1968, including leading the Cowboys to their first-ever winning record of 10-3-1 in 1966.
- Don Perkins: Perkins became one of the first stars for Dallas out of the backfield. He played from 1961 to 1968 alongside Meredith and tallied 6,217 career rushing yards.
- Drew Pearson: The wide receiver was one of the best underdog stories for the franchise — going from undrafted to Pro Bowler. He was once the team’s all-time leading receiver in 1980 and played in Dallas from 1973 to 1983.
- Emmitt Smith: The NFL’s all-time leading rusher is fittingly in the ring of honor. Along with winning three Super Bowls, Smith won the league’s rushing title four times from 1990 to 2002.
- Gil Brandt: Brandt made more of his impact off the field as an executive. He was the original vice president of player personnel and worked with Dallas from 1960 to 1988.
- Larry Allen: A fixture of some of the greatest offensive lines in league history, Allen paved the way for Smith and company during the Cowboys’ 90s run. The guard earned 10 Pro Bowl appearances.
- Lee Roy Jordan: The hard-hitting linebacker played in Dallas from 1963-1976 and earned five Pro Bowls. He also played in three Super Bowls.
- Mel Renfro: The defensive back was originally a running back before switching over. He ended up earning 10 Pro Bowl trips from 1964-1977.
- Michael Irvin: “The Playmaker” dominated cornerbacks for 12 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1999. He was the first member of the famed Dallas Triplets of the 90s with Smith and the next name.
- Troy Aikman: The top pick of the 1989 NFL Draft rose to fame and stardom by quarterbacking the Super Bowl-winning Cowboy teams of the 90s. Fittingly, Aikman, Smith, and Irvin were inducted into the ring of honor together in 2006.
- Randy White: Known as the “Manster” for being half-man, half-defensive monster, White shattered numerous team records while forming the famed “Doomsday” defense. He starred from 1975-1988.
- Rayfield Wright: One of the original line protectors for Dallas, the tackle Wright played in six straight Pro Bowls from 1971-1976.
- Roger Staubach: Considered one of the more revered Cowboys of all time, Staubach was instrumental in leading Dallas to its first two Super Bowl wins at quarterback from 1969-1979.
- Tex Schramm: The first and original general manager of the Cowboys, “Tex” served in his role from 1959 to 1989 and played a significant role in luring legendary players like Staubach, Lilly, White, etc.
- Tom Landry: Known for his famed hat, Landry guided the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victories. He coached the Cowboys from 1960 to 1988.
- Tony Dorsett: The running back dominated the league before Smith took the RB baton. Dorsett produced eight 1,000-yard seasons with the Cowboys and earned four Pro Bowls.
How Does the ROH Process Work for the Cowboys?
Is it fan voting? Or endorsements from past Cowboys legends?
According to ESPN, there’s no voting process. Everything is handled by owner Jerry Jones.
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“It’s Jerry Jones’ call. He has taken Tex Schramm’s “keep it exclusive” to heart and kept it exclusive. He will consult with people in the organization, former players and coaches, but it is his call,” ESPN revealed on Sept. 9, 2023.
Despite their much-publicized falling out after the 1993 season, Jones is now adding Johnson’s name to the echelon of Cowboys greatness inside AT&T Stadium.
There are, though, two notable retired NFL names who have been up to debate on whether they should have their names in the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.
One is Ed “Too Tall” Jones, who was a legendary Cowboys defender during the 1970s. Another being debated among fans is Tony Romo — who earned four Pro Bowls playing quarterback for Dallas. He went 80-53 as a starter and preceded current star quarterback Dak Prescott.
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