The Dallas Cowboys aren’t just a football team — they’re an institution, a brand, a dynasty, and for millions of fans, a way of life. This Sunday, America’s Team will officially play its 1,000th game in franchise history, a milestone that reminds us just how much blood, sweat, and glory has been poured into the blue star.
And while fans, analysts, and historians have spent decades arguing over who deserves the crown as the greatest Cowboy of all time, owner Jerry Jones finally gave his answer. His choice? A man who defined an era, inspired generations, and earned a nickname that still echoes through AT&T Stadium: Roger Staubach.
Yes — Captain America himself.
Why Roger Staubach?
When asked on 105.3 The Fan this week who he believed was the greatest player in Dallas Cowboys history, Jones didn’t hesitate.
“I think Roger Staubach. His leadership, his will, the way he represented the Cowboys on and off the field… there’s nobody like him.”
For those too young to have seen Staubach play, the pick might surprise you. After all, how do you compare him to modern legends like Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, or even Larry Allen?
But to understand Jerry’s answer, you have to understand what Staubach meant — not just to the Cowboys, but to football itself.
The Birth of “Captain America”
Roger Staubach wasn’t your typical NFL star. He didn’t come straight from college into the league. Instead, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, served in the Navy, and even spent a year deployed in Vietnam before ever putting on a Cowboys uniform.
By the time he finally joined Dallas in 1969, he was already 27 years old — a “rookie” who had sacrificed prime athletic years for his country.
But once he hit the field? Everything changed.
Staubach became the heartbeat of the Cowboys in the 1970s, leading them to two Super Bowl victories (VI and XII) and earning the nickname “Captain Comeback” for his uncanny ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
And of course, it was Staubach who famously coined the phrase “Hail Mary” after a last-second touchdown pass to Drew Pearson in a 1975 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings — a phrase that has since become part of football’s global vocabulary.
The Jones Standard
Jerry Jones has seen legends come and go in Dallas. Since buying the team in 1989, he’s lifted three Lombardi Trophies and signed off on some of the biggest names in Cowboys history: Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, Tony Romo.
So why go back to a player who hung up his cleats before Jones even owned the team?
Because Staubach embodies everything Jerry wants the Cowboys brand to be: heroic, disciplined, resilient, and larger than life.
It’s not just about stats (though Staubach’s résumé is elite). It’s about the intangibles — the leadership, the toughness, the ability to carry the weight of a franchise and an entire fan base on his back.
“Roger was more than a quarterback,” Jones said in the same interview. “He was a symbol. He made the Cowboys America’s Team.”
The 1,000-Game Milestone
This Sunday’s game against the Giants won’t just be another divisional matchup. It’s history in the making.
1,000 games.
Think about that for a moment.
Since their founding in 1960, the Cowboys have played through every era of modern football — from black-and-white television to 4K livestreams, from Tom Landry’s fedora to Mike McCarthy’s laminated play sheet, from the Cotton Bowl to the crown jewel that is AT&T Stadium.
And in all those years, few names shine brighter than Staubach’s. He represents the early golden age of the franchise, the foundation that players like Aikman and Smith later built upon.
Fans React to Jerry’s Pick
Of course, Jerry’s declaration set off a wildfire online.
Some fans applauded the choice, calling Staubach the “true face of the franchise.” Others argued that Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, deserved the crown. A few pushed for Aikman, pointing to his three Super Bowl rings, or Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in history.
But even the most heated debates eventually circled back to one truth: without Staubach, the Cowboys wouldn’t be the Cowboys.
“Emmitt is the record-holder, Aikman is the champion, but Roger is the soul,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Why This Matters Now
The Cowboys are in a new era — one without Micah Parsons, one where Dak Prescott is fighting to prove he can be “the guy,” and one where a new generation of players is trying to etch their names into team lore.
By naming Staubach as the greatest Cowboy ever, Jerry Jones wasn’t just reflecting on history. He was sending a message: the standard in Dallas has always been leadership, toughness, and heart.
That’s the bar for every player who puts on the star.
The Legacy of No. 12
Staubach’s impact didn’t end when he retired in 1979. He went on to build a hugely successful business empire, proving that leadership and discipline translate far beyond the field. He’s remained closely tied to the organization, often appearing at team events, Hall of Fame ceremonies, and Super Bowl celebrations.
Even today, decades later, Staubach is still revered not just as a Cowboy, but as an American icon.
The Final Word
As the Cowboys prepare for their 1,000th game, Jerry Jones’ pick feels almost poetic.
Staubach wasn’t just the best player of his time — he was the spark that lit the fire. The man who helped transform a young franchise into “America’s Team.”
And in Jerry’s eyes, even after all the legends who came after, that spark has never been matched.
So when the Cowboys run out of the tunnel this Sunday, fans will cheer for Dak, for CeeDee, for Micah’s replacements, for a chance at a new season.
But somewhere in the crowd — or maybe just in the heart of every fan who grew up in the ‘70s — they’ll be cheering for Staubach too.
Because 1,000 games later, the greatest Cowboy of them all still wears No. 12.
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