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For the most part I agree with this list. But putting Dat Nguyen ahead of D.D. Lewis is criminal. And where is Bob Breunig?
The 10 best linebackers in the history of the Dallas Cowboys
By Jerry Trotta
8/22/2024
The value of inside linebacker play has made a triumphant return. The position's importance had cratered since the mid 2010s, but it is once again highly important to boast quality linebacker play. The Dallas Cowboys learned that the hard way last season, when their lack of presence at linebacker loomed large late in the schedule and in the playoffs.
The Cowboys' five Super Bowls were won on the back of elite offenses, but the iconic "Doomsday Defense" and defenses from the mid-1990s were propelled by their linebackers. With that in mind, let's rank the 10-best linebackers to ever suit up for Dallas.
Criteria for selection:
Linebackers is a very broad position group, so this list only includes inside linebackers. In other words, don't expect DeMarcus Ware or other "outside linebackers" to appear. Ware and other decorated outside linebackers can be found in our ranking of the top 10 defensive linemen in Cowboys history.
Individual accolades (All-Pros, Pro Bowls, DPOY, etc.) factored heavily in these rankings. Individual statistics also carried weight, but tackles were not seriously tracked until the mid-1990s. Tackles are generally the go-to stat to measure linebacker play.
Length of tenure and team success were also considered, but not blindly. Just because a player spent many years in Dallas or won multiple Super Bowls doesn't mean they were included. They had to be relevant during their tenure and valued contributors to a championship-winning team.
Here is their list: https://thelandryhat.com/posts/best-linebackers-dallas-cowboys-history-01j5ebjkaahm
The 10 best linebackers in the history of the Dallas Cowboys
By Jerry Trotta
8/22/2024
The value of inside linebacker play has made a triumphant return. The position's importance had cratered since the mid 2010s, but it is once again highly important to boast quality linebacker play. The Dallas Cowboys learned that the hard way last season, when their lack of presence at linebacker loomed large late in the schedule and in the playoffs.
The Cowboys' five Super Bowls were won on the back of elite offenses, but the iconic "Doomsday Defense" and defenses from the mid-1990s were propelled by their linebackers. With that in mind, let's rank the 10-best linebackers to ever suit up for Dallas.
Criteria for selection:
Linebackers is a very broad position group, so this list only includes inside linebackers. In other words, don't expect DeMarcus Ware or other "outside linebackers" to appear. Ware and other decorated outside linebackers can be found in our ranking of the top 10 defensive linemen in Cowboys history.
Individual accolades (All-Pros, Pro Bowls, DPOY, etc.) factored heavily in these rankings. Individual statistics also carried weight, but tackles were not seriously tracked until the mid-1990s. Tackles are generally the go-to stat to measure linebacker play.
Length of tenure and team success were also considered, but not blindly. Just because a player spent many years in Dallas or won multiple Super Bowls doesn't mean they were included. They had to be relevant during their tenure and valued contributors to a championship-winning team.
Here is their list: https://thelandryhat.com/posts/best-linebackers-dallas-cowboys-history-01j5ebjkaahm
