Dallas Cowboys Face of the Franchise: Who Rules in Big D?

When you think of the Dallas Cowboys, many faces and plays come to mind.

Drew Pearson's Hail Mary catch, Emmitt Smith running with an injured shoulder and even Tony Romo's fumbled field goal attempt are all engraved in the minds of Cowboy faithful.

With those plays come great players, great moments, unfortunate circumstances and even goats. But what those kind of plays also allude to is the faces we remember at the forefront of our highest hopes and dreams coming true when rooting for a win is all that really matters.

For the Dallas Cowboys, it's hard to put just place one face on the overall greatness of the franchise. Five Super Bowl wins, countless All-Pro and Hall of Famers, a legendary coach and even the great Ring of Honor that enshrines those who have gone above and beyond.

But as we like to do in fantasy and debate, here's a list of the 10 Cowboys most associated with the phrase, "Face of the Franchise." Without these individuals, it's certain another team would have claimed the mantra "America's Team."

Cowboys fans, be glad another team didn't.

Honorable Mention: Tony Romo

Tony Romo is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, for better or worse. He's been at his post for five seasons now, so he's entering territory of being one of the longest-tenured at the position in franchise history.

That being said, he's often brought more negative publicity than results. How is it that during his time as the starter, Dallas has only one playoff victory, but at least three high-profile Romo girlfriends, a mid-season trip to Mexico and as many rounds of golf with Tiger Woods (four) as playoff games.

QB is always going to be a high-profile position. It's like the shortstop of the New York Yankees. Everything Romo does is going to be broadcast across media outlets everywhere, so it would be foolish not to at least include him in the all-time faces list.

Romo might move into the top 10 eventually; whether he moves up based on negative publicity or playoff success is yet to be seen.

10. Randy White

"The Manster" was exactly that during his time as a Cowboy, compiling 52 career sacks to go along with his 1977 Super Bowl MVP award.

He's even opened up a chain of Texas BBQ restaurants known as Randy White's Barbeque. If that isn't face of the franchise material, I don't know what is.

His intimidating defense and likeable personality have led him the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a position as an analyst for the team's game-day coverage for the local network.

White is truly one of the best there was to wear the star on his helmet and a picture of what a Cowboy should be.

9. DeMarcus Ware

Ware and Charles Haley left a lofty standard for anyone to ever wear No. 94 after it's no longer in use. However, the pace that Ware is at, it won't be in use after he decides to hang it up for the final time.

With 99 sacks in only seven NFL seasons, Ware is on pace to be one of the most dominant defensive players this generation will ever see. It seems only injury or a potential trade would slow him down in Dallas, and that second will likely never come to fruition.

The anchor of a defense that has had four defensive coordinators since he arrived in 2005, Ware puts up big numbers no matter who is flanking him or who is calling the plays.

If he continues to put forth the kind of defensive pressure and effort that makes him one of the best 3-4 OLBs in the league, he'll enter the conversation with all-time greats like Lawrence Taylor.

That's the face of the franchise material in any book.

8. Tony Dorsett

The running back from Pittsburgh followed up his championship season in college with one in the NFL, after the Cowboys won the 1977 Super Bowl during his rookie season.

Dorsett is still eighth overall in all-time rushing yards, pretty solid considering the company he keeps in that list and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.

Dorsett left the Cowboys in the capable hands of Herschel Walker and eventually Emmitt Smith—two guys who did pretty well for themselves later on.

While the Cowboys only won one Super Bowl during his tenure, he was a central figure for almost a decade when the "America's Team" nickname was taking full shape and was one of the better players for coach Tom Landry until he was a Cowboy no more.

7. Bob Lilly

The first ever draft pick by the franchise in 1961, Lilly became known as "Mr. Cowboy" because of that fact, and his role as the anchor of the vaunted Doomsday Defense.

Since defensive tackle is somewhat of an unknown position to casual fans and even forgotten by diehard ones, Lilly won't move much past the flashier roles of the men ahead of him on this list. But his contributions as an anchor and a defender stretch further than this list can measure.

There's no doubt Lilly is one of the greatest defenders in the history of the league, as well as the greatest to ever wear the star. Any list of Cowboy greats would find him in the top five. But, since this is a list that describes the marketability and remembrance of those in Dallas folklore, Lilly will be more towards the end.

That's likely OK with him, since he was an early iron man, missing only one game in his entire NFL career. Face of the team or not, Lilly was coming after the quarterback, resting a week and doing it again the next Sunday.

6. Michael Irvin

"The Playmaker" left the University of Miami and came to a bad Cowboy team. But his patience payed off in two years, when the triplets were born.

Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman were the foundation of three Dallas championship teams, and Irvin's playoff performances were as much a part of those big wins as anyone.

He caught two touchdowns in each of the first two Super Bowl wins and added five catches for 76 yards in the third.

While he had some off-the-field issues that affected his legacy, Irvin was a double-team magnet and made it easier for Smith to carve up defenses. Adversely, Smith's running ability often gave him single coverage to "Moss" receivers before the term ever existed.

Host of a local radio show a couple years ago, Irvin still makes his presence known in Dallas from time to time and will voice his opinion on the direction of the franchise.

Not many will forget what he did as a member of the triplets, and that's why he makes the top 10 as one of the most polarizing figures to play for Dallas.

5. Jerry Jones

It's sad that Jerry Jones trumps the very players that he manages, but so is the case for today's Dallas Cowboys.

Many wanted Jones sent out of town after he fired Tom Landry and hired Jimmy Johnson. But three Super Bowl wins in the '90s kept the critics at bay, and no one realized how influential Jones can be until losing was more prevalent than winning.

Jones is the only GM/owner in the NFL, and he asserts his will on basically every decision the club makes, even making appearances on the sideline during close games.

The new stadium in Arlington, TX, is aptly coined "Jerry World" by those close to the area, and Jones does everything he can to market the city of Dallas, the star and the stadium for profit and notoriety.

Until he no longer owns the team, Jerry Jones will be in the headlines for his decisions, his quotes and his pocketbook. They didn't fail the fans in the '90s, but until that type of success sets in around Dallas again, Jerry will be the unwanted face of a franchise that just can't get over the hump.

4. Tom Landry

The third winningest coach in the history of the NFL almost has too many accomplishments to list. He has the most playoff wins (20) of any coach ever. His 20 consecutive seasons of winning football is a running record that will likely never be broken.

Aside from those stats, he is considered the innovator of the 4-3 defense, and the mastermind behind the Doomsday Defense that was well-known during the 70's success.

He was run off by Jerry Jones for a young guy named Jimmy Johnson, but his time as the head coach of America's Team will never be forgotten, evidenced by the highway that bears his name in the Dallas area and the statue that bears his face at the front of the new Cowboy stadium.

His values, somber attitude and football knowledge make up the characteristics people remember most, and his fedora will live on in Cowboy lore as much as the star that makes up the side of the helmets still worn today.

3. Emmitt Smith

The Florida standout and current all-time leading rusher in the history of the franchise was the third and final piece of "The Triplets" that led to three Super Bowl victories in the '90s and the rise of Jerry Jones as one of the biggest owners in any sport.

Smith is still second all time in total touchdowns and yards from scrimmage, and his playoff performances were some of the biggest reasons why Dallas found themselves in the position to win three NFL titles.

His appearance on Dancing With the Stars was a nice way to remember the fancy footwork that made him the best back in the history of the franchise and arguably the greatest in the history of the game.

Not many around Dallas can look at a picture of Smith and not know who it is, and even a decade after putting on the helmet with the star for the last time, his presence and impact are both still felt.

2. Troy Aikman

Hits like the one Aikman is taking in the photo shortened his NFL career, but that didn't diminish his value and what he brought to the team during his 12 seasons at the helm.

Depending upon your point of view, Aikman could be at the top of this list. His three Super Bowl championships pale in comparison to no one, and his great career makes quarterbacks like Quincy Carter, Drew Henson and even Tony Romo feel the pressure before they ever take the snap in a real Cowboys' uniform.

Announcing for Fox Sports now on Sundays, Aikman has to be unbiased and fair when calling Dallas games. But not many who listen can forget he used to play for the man who still owns the team, and many wonder why he bashes the franchise that made him one of the greatest at his position during his time in the league.

But that's the way broadcasting goes, and if Aikman ever decided to try his hand at coaching or an office position, he would be welcomed back with open arms and a pat on the back for being recognized by fans and haters alike of the silver-outlined blue star.

1. Roger Staubach

There weren't too many things Roger Staubach didn't do for the Cowboy franchise. He threw for over 20,000 yards, rushed for 2,000 more and led his team to two Super Bowl victories.

Individually, he was a member of the 1970's All-Decade team and a 1985 Hall of Fame inductee. He's stayed around the Dallas-area, co-owning a racing team with fellow great Troy Aikman.

Much like the No. 2 on this list, Staubach's place as the face of the franchise is likely based on the time period in which you grew up. Dallas fans of the 60s and 70s will tell you there was never a greater leader to play quarterback for the 'Boys, while those in the '90s will argue to Aikman's toughness and precision passing.

I put it this way: Staubach set the standard for every player to put on the uniform. Humble, hard-working and good at his job, the former Navy standout didn't even join the league until he was 27 years old, five years after he was drafted, due to his service commitment.

Staubach made the star mean something. If we're lucky, we will continue to pass his legend down to 'Boys fans young and old and make sure he's the face of the franchise as long as there is a face to put with the memories of the Dallas legends we all love.