Throughout the years, many great quarterbacks have worn the star for the Dallas Cowboys. From Captain America to the current-day QB who doesn’t get the respect he deserves, being the quarterback for America’s Team has always come with a little bit more baggage.
Troy Aikman is a three-time Super Bowl champion and the leader of a dynasty that controlled the 90s, but does that make him the best quarterback in franchise history? We discuss that and everything else as we list the five best QBs in Cowboys history.
Greatest Dallas Cowboys QBs of All Time
Throughout Dallas’ history, quarterbacks with various skill sets and successes have competed for the Cowboys. From league leaders in individual categories to team success and elite performances along the way, the Cowboys have been fortunate to have some of the best quarterbacks in league history under center for them.
Now let’s take a look at which players are among the five greatest Cowboys quarterbacks of all time.
5) Danny White
No. 5 on the list was not only the Cowboys’ starting quarterback for much of the 1980s but also a punter for them in the late 1970s.
Danny White spent 13 years in Dallas, with the first four years seeing limited action as a quarterback before becoming the guy in 1980. From there, White took his opportunity and ran with it, starting 92 games and appearing in 166 during that time. He finished his career with one Super Bowl title and one Pro Bowl selection while tallying 21,959 passing yards and 155 touchdowns.
White doesn’t get nearly enough credit for his time in Dallas, partly due to how great the history at the position is for the franchise, but you can’t tell the story of the Cowboys’ QB history without White, putting him comfortably within the top five all-time.
4) Tony Romo
From undrafted out of Eastern Illinois to one of the best quarterbacks in Cowboys history, Tony Romo’s story is a great one for the franchise. Although he was never able to win a Super Bowl or find much playoff success, Romo’s impact on the franchise cannot be ignored.
Romo was a four-time Pro Bowler, who finished his Cowboys career with 78 wins over 127 starts. He was electric on a football field and found ways to extend a play and come out of the grasp of a would-be sack like few have ever done before.
The man was a magician. Happy 40th Birthday, @TonyRomo!
(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/CYou26nxtR
— NFL (@NFL) April 21, 2020
Romo ended his career with 34,183 passing yards and 248 passing touchdowns and completed 65.3% of his passes.
The biggest knock against him is the fact he was unable to get over the hump in the playoffs. However, Romo provided stability to the Cowboys for over a decade, cementing him squarely within the franchise’s best of all time.
3) Dak Prescott
Putting Dak Prescott at No. 3 here is going to be debated; I acknowledge that right off the bat. However, if Romo is on the list, which he deserves to be, so does Prescott.
The former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State has stepped into the NFL and has continued to make plays while giving the Cowboys legitimacy at the QB position since Day 1.
Prescott has never had a losing season in any year that he was healthy and played the majority of the games. Coupled with the fact that he’s already shattered several records of some of the guys previously mentioned and Prescott undeniably belongs on this list.
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In just eight seasons, Prescott is only five wins short of Romo’s total of 78 and has continuously been viewed as a top-10-caliber quarterback for much of his NFL career. He’s on the cusp of passing Romo in passing yards with a current total of 29,459 and on his heels with total touchdown passes with 202 as well.
There’s no way that Prescott can climb any higher on this list without winning at least one Super Bowl title. However, as far as history goes, the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner has certainly already earned his place amongst his peers in Dallas.
2) Troy Aikman
As we reach No. 2 on our list, we begin to introduce the franchise’s true greats, starting with Aikman, who was in charge of the Cowboys’ dynasty in the 1990s.
Aikman was under center for three Super Bowl titles, winning one Super Bowl MVP, was selected to six Pro Bowls, was a Walter Payton Man of the Year winner in 1997, and is a well-deserved member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Aikman is what the Cowboys franchise has been chasing at the quarterback position ever since he left after the 2000 season. He finished with 94 wins, 32,942 passing yards, 165 touchdown passes, and completed over 61% of his throws.
Troy Aikman career highlights pic.twitter.com/eXLNScVdI7
— Shane (@shane_0415) September 1, 2023
The combination of Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith helped elevate the Cowboys brand to what it is today. And while there are plenty of debates regarding Aikman and his status amongst the NFL’s best quarterbacks, what can’t be disputed is his place amongst the very best in Dallas.
1) Roger Staubach
Last but certainly not least, at No. 1 is Captain America himself, Roger Staubach. Staubach was the face of the Cowboys and may have even been the face of the league during his tenure with Dallas.
Kids all over wanted to be like Staubach when they grew up, and when you look at his statistics, it’s easy to see why. He spent his entire 11-year career with the Cowboys, finishing with 85 wins in 114 starts, 22,700 passing yards, and 153 touchdown passes during a time when the forward pass was much different than it is now.
KEEP READING: Ranking the Best Dallas Cowboys RBs of All Time
Staubach finished his career with two Super Bowl titles, one Super Bowl MVP, six Pro Bowls, a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team, and earned a rightful spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Staubach left the Naval Academy, became the face of America’s Team, and was part of the reason why several continue to idolize the quarterback position.
Not only is he the best QB to ever play for the Cowboys, there’s a real argument to be made he’s one of the greatest the NFL has ever seen.