Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys: Ranking the 5 best quarterbacks of all-time

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:53 a.m. ET

Fansided, Randy Gurzi/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

The Dallas Cowboys have had some great players throughout their storied history, but which five quarterbacks are the best to play for them?

Love them or hate them, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most visible franchises in all of sports. They have won five Super Bowls and seem to always be in the spotlight. A team doesn't reach this level of notoriety without having some superstars along the way. In this series we look at the best players to sport the star — this time we focus on quarterbacks.

No position in the league gets more glory. When a team of more than 50-men win a title, the quarterback is the only one who automatically becomes elite. This happened with Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens and Eli Manning of the New York Giants. Both were being questioned about their abilities, but then a hot postseason run (or two for Manning) changed their perception quickly.

The position is also the one that gets the most blame. That same large roster escapes culpability for the team's failures to win, except the signal-caller. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is a great example — as is former Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo. Both those players take the majority of the blame for the team's shortcomings in crunch time.

Such is the life of an NFL quarterback, and no where does the light shine brighter than in Dallas, Texas. Those quarterbacks are under a bigger microscope than any, and here are the five best to excel while in that pressure cooker.

5. Don Meredith— Nine Seasons in Dallas (1960-68)

Career Passing Yards and touchdowns: 17,199 – 135

He's number five in total passing yards in Dallas Cowboys history and also lands at number five in our ranking of best to ever start under center for America's Team. Nicknamed "Dandy Don" for his efficiency on the field, Meredith became a three-time Pro Bowler and is in the team's Ring of Honor.

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He only was a full-time starter for six seasons after spending 1960-1962 primarily as a reserve to Eddie LeBaron. Dandy Don guided them to three post season berths, but the team was just 1-3 in those appearances. His lone playoff win came in his second to last season. Meredith's final act came in the 1968 post season when he finished an abysmal 3-of-9 passing with three interceptions. He was the starter for one of the most heartbreaking losses ever for the Cowboys, the 1967 Ice Bowl against the Green Bay Packers.

Meredith received more praise for his work after playing the game. He was one of the original analysts for Monday Night Football and had the great honor of working with Howard Cosell. He did raise some eyebrows with a few of his comments, including making fun of the name of a Cleveland Browns receiver Fair Hooker — but how can you really blame him for that?

4. Danny White — 13 Seasons in Dallas (1976-88)

Career Passing Yards and touchdowns: 21,959 – 155

Danny White nearly was never even a Dallas Cowboy, and he was also nearly a legend. He originally was selected by the Boys to be a punter, but he wanted more so White joined the Memphis Southmen of the World Football League to play quarterback. When their league folded, he headed to Dallas and was a backup to star signal-caller Roger Staubach — but was also used as the punter.

White became the starter once Staubach hung up his cleats, but he still had to do his job as a punter as well — which made him even more valuable. Not only does he have the fourth-most passing yards in Cowboys history with 21,959 yards, but he also is second in punting yards with 24,509.

As for nearly being a legend, White was on the losing end of "The Catch," one of the most iconic and replayed receptions to win a game in NFL history. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana connected with receiver Dwight Clark on a game-winning touchdown, but it nearly wasn't the end. White led the Cowboys down and hit receiver Drew Pearson, who nearly avoided a tackle which could have changed the outcome.

As it stands, White is the best punter/quarterback combo player in the history of America's Team, and comes in at a respectable number four in this poll.

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) rolls out to pass during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

3. Tony Romo — 14 Seasons in Dallas (2003-16)

Career Passing Yards and touchdowns: 34,183 – 248

Perhaps no one understands the aforementioned blame placed on quarterback like Tony Romo, who comes in at number three all time for Dallas. Romo should have been heralded as an overachiever and a true American Success story. He wasn't invited to take drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in advance of the 2003 season, but instead was there to throw to receivers so the "good quarterbacks" wouldn't tire themselves out.

After a stellar 14-year career, the list of players drafted ahead of him is laughable. Outside of first overall selection Carson Palmer, none ever made much of an impact. Byron Leftwich, Kyle Boller and Rex Grossman all lasted in the league for a while, but were never great. There was also Chris Simms, Drew Henson, Brooks Bollinger and Ken Dorsey — just to name a few.

Not only did Romo outlast them all, he even was able to rack up enough yards through the air to be number one in yardage for the historic club.

The issue with Romo was that he just never won the big game. He could get Dallas close, but never moved past the second round of the post season. It's a shame for a guy who gave so much to the game to never taste a championship, but it shouldn't take away from how good he truly was.

Jun 16, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, visits with former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach before the baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

2. Roger Staubach — 11 Seasons in Dallas (1969-79)

Career Passing Yards and touchdowns: 22,700 – 153

No player in Dallas Cowboy's history is as likable and known as former quarterback Roger Staubach. The two-time Super Bowl winner was not just the leader of America's Team; he was a true American. After being selected as a 10th-round pick with one year of eligibility, the Naval Academy star quarterback went and served his country until 1969.

He then joined the Boys at the age of 27, and wound up leading them to two Super Bowl titles. The first of those two titles (Super Bowl VI) saw the signal-caller get awarded the Super Bowl MVP. He was also named to six Pro Bowls in his decorated career and in a member of both the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fame.

He was nicknamed "Roger the Dodger" as he was one of the more mobile quarterbacks of his time and was exciting to watch. To this day he's one of the most popular figures in relation to Dallas and still is sought out often for his opinion on the team. Staubach is often considered the best Cowboy off all-time and, despite playing at a time when running reigned supreme, he still did enough to be third in the history of this team's passing yardage.

Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player and Fox broadcaster Troy Aikman on the field during warm-ups prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

1. Troy Aikman — 12 Seasons in Dallas (1989-2000)

Career Passing Yards and touchdowns: 32,942 – 165

Do we fall victim to giving quarterback Troy Aikman the top spot in Dallas Cowboys history because he won the most Super Bowls? Yes, and no. Aikman did have the benefit of playing with some of the best to ever step onto a football field, which surely aided his three titles. It may not have happened without him though.

While the 1990s Cowboys were talented, there was also a lot of big egos. Aikman was a strong enough leader and had enough clout to hold many of those personalities in check

He also had the benefit pf handing the ball off to NFL rushing yardage leader Emmitt Smith, which helped him tremendously. Still, when push came to shove, Aikman never backed down from a challenge and was able to shine no matter what kind of pressure or competition he faced.

No. 8 also finished as the leader in passing yardage for the Boys — a record recently surpassed by Romo — despite the team being a run first, and sometimes second offense. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Aikman can now be heard every Sunday as the lead analyst for their football coverage.