Best Of The Best Cowboys Starting Quarterbacks Of All Time

by KD Drummond on Jul 3, 2011 2:03 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys History

Now that we've locked down the offensive and defensive schemes for BTB's Best of the Best four team tourney, it's time to turn our focus to the players. Since quarterbacks often are equated to wins and losses just as coaches are, I thought it only fair to dedicate a post to them specifically. We'll handle the rest of the offensive player pool in the next post in the series.

Dallas Cowboys fans have been blessed with franchise quarterbacks. Manning the position puts a player in rarified air, with as much connotation as shortstop of the New York Yankees. There have been two Hall of Famers with seven Super Bowl starts between them, as well as another who started one for Dallas and one for another club. They have a quarterback that achieved a continued amount of regular season success, and are currently captained by a quarterback that is breaking most of the team's records. In between them, though, the void has been a great one. More than any other fanbase, the Cowboys know what it takes to lead a team from the quarterback position and what just won't cut it. Without further ado, here is the rundown of all players who have started a game for the Dallas Cowboys.

Quarterback	Years Spanned By Starts	Career Record	Quarterback	Years Spanned By Starts	Career Record
Don Heinrich	1960-1960	0-1	Bernie Kosar	1993-1993	0-1
Eddie LeBaron	1960-1963	4-21-1	Jason Garrett	1993-1999	6-3
Don Meredith	1960-1968	48-33-4	Rodney Peete	1994-1994	1-0
John Roach	1964-1964	0-4	Wade Wilson	1995-1997	0-1
Jerry Rhome	1965-1967	1-2	Clint Stoerner	2000-2001	1-1
Craig Morton	1965-1974	32-14-1	Anthony Wright	2000-2001	1-1
Roger Staubach	1969-1979	85-29	Randall Cunningham	2000-2000	1-2
Clint Longley	1974-1975	1-0	Ryan Leaf	2001-2001	0-3
Danny White	1976-1988	62-30	Quincy Carter	2001-2003	16-15
Glenn Carano	1980-1981	1-0	Chad Hutchinson	2002-2003	2-7
Gary Hogeboom	1982-1985	6-6	Drew Henson	2004-2004	1-0
Steve Pelluer	1985-1988	8-19	Vinny Testaverde	2004-2004	5-10
Reggie Collier	1986-1986	0-1	Drew Bledsoe	2005-2006	12-10
Kevin Sweeny	1987-1988	2-2	Tony Romo	2006 - Current	39-22
Steve Walsh	1989-1990	1-4	Brad Johnson	2007-2008	1-2
Troy Aikman	1989-2000	94-71	Stephen McGee	2010-2010	1-0
Babe Laufenberg	1990-1990	0-1	Jon Kitna	2010-2010	4-5
Steve Beuerlein	1991-1992	4-0

Follow the jump to see who made the cut for our BTB player pool.

For a look back at the offensive schemes, go here. For the defensive schemes, go here.

[UPDATE: The players are NOW listed in ranking order]

Those Who Made The Cut:

Roger The Dodger

QB Roger Staubach	1969 - 1979	Hall Of Fame. 2 time Super Bowl Champion, started two others. 1971 Player Of the Year, 1971 SB MVP. 11-6 Playoff Record. 6 Pro Bowls.	Career 85-29 record (.746 WP). Threw for over 22K yards in his career, 153 TDs against 109 INTs. Career 7.7 yards per attempt. Holds team single season record for YPA (8.9) and QB rating (104.8) both in 1971.	Interesting note, Staubach retired as the highest rated passer of all-time, leading the league on four different occasions. Tom Landry described him as "possibly the best combination of a passer, an athlete and a leader to ever play in the NFL." What else is there to add on to that?

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Aikman, The Man-Robot

QB Troy Aikman	1989 - 2000	Hall Of Fame. 3 time Super Bowl Champion, '92 SB MVP, 11-4 Overall Playoff record. 6 Pro Bowls.	Career 94-71 record (.570 WP). Just under 2900 completions and 33K yards in his career. 165 career TDs, 141 INTs, 7.0 career yards per attempt. 81.6 Career QB Rating	An interesting note I always thought about Troy Aikman's numbers. I fondly remember the Cowboys offensive strategy seems to be pass to get to the 10, and let Emmitt take care of the rest. To the point the Cowboys didn't pass into the end zone as a strategy, knowing the defense had to cover it, throwing underneath was easier. It's amazing to me that Aikman's interception totals were so high compared to TD, but I think that's a major reason why.

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Dandy Don Meredith

QB Don Meredith	1960 - 1968	1966 Player of the Year. Career 1-3 playoff record. 3 time Pro Bowler.	Career 48-33-4 record (.588 WP). Threw for over 17000 yards for his career, 135 TDs against 111 INTs. Career 7.5 YPA, career 74.8 QB Rating. Holds record for longest Cowboys pass (95 yards)	An interesting note, Dandy Don Meredith is known as the original Cowboy. He had signed a personal services contract with another company of owner Clint Murchison before the team had a nickname, hired a coach or made a pick in the expansion draft.

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Almost Danny White

QB Danny White	1976 - 1988	Lifetime 5-5 playoff record. Appeared in 1 Pro Bowl.	Career 62-30 record (.674 WP). Just under 22K career passing yards, 155 TDs against 132 INTs. Career 7.4 YPA and 81.7 QB Rating.	An interesting note, White is known as the almost guy, not quite good enough to deliver a favored team to a championship. In the infamous catch game, White had completed a pass to Drew Pearson who was barely tripped up on his way to a score.

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Tony 'The Playa' Romo

QB Tony Romo	2006 - 2010	3 Pro Bowls	Career 39-22 record (.639 WP) Holds team single season records for completions, attempts, pass yards, completion percentage, touchdowns. 8.0 career yards per attempt. 95.5 Career QB Rating, 116 career TDs against 62 interceptions.	Interesting note, Tony Romo has the same interception percentage as Aikman (3.0%) and better than Staubach. Doesn't Romo seem to have the impression that he throws picks more often than other Cowboys quarterbacks?

Star_medium_medium

Craig Morton

QB Craig Morton	1965 - 1974	Career 3-2 playoff record with the Cowboys, 5-5 lifetime.	Career 32-14-1 record (.691 WP). Threw for over 10K yards with 80 TDs against 73 INTs. Career 7.9 YPA and 71.7 QB Rating	An interesting note, Morton was the quarterback in Dallas' first Super Bowl appearance, SB V, a loss to Baltimore. Morton would go on to become the first QB to start a SB with two teams, when he led the Broncos into SB XII.

Up next in the series: BOTB Offensive Skill Position Cowboys

Special recognition for this series goes to the following resources. I'm very appreciative of the content provided.

www.profootballreference.com

www.wikipedia.com

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

Head or heart?

Head says Troy, but my heart says Roger. So I will go with my heart and the QB of my youth, the Great Roger Staubach. Captain Comeback wins another.

Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!

by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 3, 2011 2:21 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed TG37,so hard to choose,Capt. America wins though.

Another interesting note on Roger is that he went to Vietnam before joining his team.What an honorable man.

Dallas Cowboys Rule!!!

by NVCowboy4Life on Jul 4, 2011 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

OOPS...Rec'd KD,great post!!!

Reliving my youth and all the thrilling moments that Roger the Dodger,Dandy Don,and Troy gave us is quite the treat.What a great reminder of why I am a fan of “America’s Team”,the greatest team in history!!!

Dallas Cowboys Rule!!!

by NVCowboy4Life on Jul 4, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks KD

For another great read and some additional info on some of the older guys. I like how we got in all QB’s with a nickname but Craig poor guy Morton. Why couldn’t you have used Ryan “Biggest Bust Ever” Leaf haha?

I’m really enjoying these posts they are full of good info and last post had those links to show a more detailed look into Coach Jimmy’s D. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Roger: Hey, with this mortar launcher, we can get back at the kid who went all Tom Sizemore on your eye!
Steve: Oh, I wish I could get back at him. I'm gonna dress up as a girl and get him to have sex with me and then say "Ha! I'm not a girl! You just had sex with a boy that hates you!"
Roger: Yes, let's leave that plan between you, me, and the string of therapists who won't be able to help you.
American Dad

by Cowboys_Attack on Jul 3, 2011 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

you're welcome CA

and thanks for the acknowledge. I wish I could write about everything I’m learning as I put these posts together.

SB Nation's Dallas Cowboys Site, Blogging The Boys | Follow me @KDP10for10
Flood The Block Radio on THEFLOW, every Tuesday 730p on www.rocktheflow.com | The new social pulse of the DMV.

by KD Drummond on Jul 4, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I know what you mean

but thanks for the huge effort you and the other guys put in.

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jul 4, 2011 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cowboy QBs that could put their team on their backs and carry them to wins were

Roger and Dandy Don. Best Cowboy QBs IMO were 1-Staubach, 2-Meredith, 2a-Aikman, 4-White and 5-Romo. Romo can move up the list before he’s done, but playoff wins are a key to his body of work as a Cowboy QB.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jul 3, 2011 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

if playoff wins are key

then why place him behind Almost Danny White? Just wondering is all I like the rest of your list though.

by Cowboys_Attack on Jul 3, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cowboys went to the playoffs 5 times and won 3 NFC East titles with White at QB.

He was 5-5 in the playoffs, it doesn’t compare to Staubach or Aikman, but who does? IMO Romo has to win playoff games to move up the list.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jul 3, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

thats fair

I suppose I feel like Romo’s team has lost 2 and he’s lost 1. I like to get starry eyed with him though and have a hard time not putting him straight behind Aikman but you are right Danny does deserve it. I do like the way he’s playing and that he’s golfing I actually think that will be a very good thing for him with the shoulder injury it could help with strenthening it to help get him back to form.

by Cowboys_Attack on Jul 3, 2011 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions

The one reason why Romo will never compare... winning %

Let me be fair… the league is a lot more competitive now. A .700 winning % (Staubach) is pretty difficult especially if you’re talking about a 15-year career. And Aikman? 11-4 in the playoffs? Romo would have to win 10 of his next 11 just to be even…

Sometimes a QB rating doesn’t mean as much about the player as the play calling…

Don’t believe the hype, Romo is a great undrafted QB, who is the Cowboys QB… not the Rams. Don’t expect him to be the hero, cause he won’t… expect Garrett/Ryan to win you a superbowl not Romo… the next Cowboy Superbowl MVP will likely be McGee not Romo.

Romo’s next big award might be an Emmy not a football award… to much drama for that.

by scraig on Jul 3, 2011 3:21 PM CDT reply actions

You know, Scraig?

I would not be opposed to trading Romo if we get great value for him. I believe in McGee. But for now, Romo is our QB, so please stop hating. He is not a drama queen, I have no idea where you are coming from. That dude has made a LOT of plays. If he hit players in stride more often he would be the best of Staubach and Aikman’s respective games.

Give me UR calls! Give me highstepping by CBs and PRs entering the endzone! Give me screaming on the sidelines and headbutting! Give me Fortitude, Solidarity and VIOLENCE! Bring me CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Bring me Ridolin LOL! - B'nSB

by BlueNSilverBlood on Jul 4, 2011 1:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Have to be a little surprised

by Quincy Carter’s 16-15 record as a starter. I hate to admit it, but the dude showed some promise from 2001-2003. He was surrounded by sh*t players and completely dysfunctional leadership his first couple of years, but he was over .500 and not completely wretched stat-wise, all things considered. Of course if he wasnt a pothead we never would have found Romo, so I guess things worked out OK…

by DavidH22 on Jul 3, 2011 10:04 PM CDT reply actions

cokehead actually IIRC

by mdlusk on Jul 4, 2011 6:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Didnt think Q-ball had a winning record

That has to be a misprint :)

by Antonio S on Jul 5, 2011 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Roger Staubach The Ultimate RKG

Staubach and Landry Now they had some serious MOJO.

by meisternance on Jul 3, 2011 11:40 PM CDT reply actions

Hard to believe

Garrett started more games as Beuerlein, Kosar, Peete, Wilson and Laufenberg combined. I did not remember that.

by Crowboy on Jul 4, 2011 3:13 AM CDT reply actions

Romo over Danny White.

How.

I hate to say it but those records Romo holds are pretty meaningless.

Drew Brees has thrown back to back for 4000 yards.

300 yard games are the normal now.

35 att a game is the new normal.

No one in their right mind would take Brees over Marino.

We are in the passing era. Stats are meaningless when comparing today’s passing records to the previous 4 decades.

by Sharksbreath on Jul 4, 2011 11:04 AM CDT reply actions

Blah blah blah

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jul 4, 2011 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry folks- my editing makes it appear that I am listing in order of preference- I'm not

they aren’t ‘ranked’ they are just listed, but the first three names being how most would rank them would lead anyone to believe that… I’m updating the piece to clarify for all

SB Nation's Dallas Cowboys Site, Blogging The Boys | Follow me @KDP10for10
Flood The Block Radio on THEFLOW, every Tuesday 730p on www.rocktheflow.com | The new social pulse of the DMV.

by KD Drummond on Jul 4, 2011 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

That Babe Laufenberg 0-1 still hurts to this day

If Dallas wins that game, they go to the playoffs for the first time in years. But BL gave us the absolutely worst QB performance I think I have ever seen in my 39 years of watching football.

Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!

by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 4, 2011 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Babe is a great guy,

but he was never a NFL QB. He’s smart and Aikman leaned on him in his early years. Babe made the most out of a one year stint with the Boys. Top TV sports guy in DFW, color man on the Cowboy radio broadcast, a respected and probably well paid speaker, weekly show with Cowboy’s HC and get exclusive interviews with players and coaches because of the trust factor he has from being an ex NFL player.

Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jul 4, 2011 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

it was awesome to watch that game, though. We came very close and I think it built our confidence that we could play a playoff team close without Troy.

by BlueNSilverBlood on Jul 4, 2011 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Call me old school, but Staubach will always be number one

Everything else is up for grabs, but Roger was the quarterback who put the Cowboys on the map. Meredith came close one time, but Roger won two rings and should have had a third (somewhere Jackie Smith winces again over the dropped touchdown). And really, who else in Cowboys history, or most of the NFL, could you see as the quarterback of America’s Team?

From now on, the competition is to unseat Aikman as number two.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jul 4, 2011 2:33 PM CDT reply actions

Not much competition there for the #2 spot, is there?

Lifelong Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/

by Seanrude on Jul 4, 2011 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Meredith came close twice...

He led the Cowboys to the brink of the end zone in the last minute of the 1966 NFL Championship game against Green Bay. Then, they led in the last minute of the 1967 Ice Bowl game until Starr’s sneak with seconds remaining.

Win those games, as I mentioned in a Fanpost when Meredith passed away, and the Cowboys would have won the first two Super Bowls (before they were called Super Bowls), and the Lombardi Trophy would have probably been named the Landry trophy.

Cowboys, Longhorns, and Spurs - all undefeated in 2011-12.

by hookerhome on Jul 4, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I will say Meredith was one of the first great Cowboys.

But if he had won those two championships, the argument would be whether he was better than Aikman.

Yes, that is just my opinion. But that’s how I see it.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jul 4, 2011 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

what impresses me

look at Romo’s TD to INT numbers, pretty damn good

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

by Archie Barberio on Jul 4, 2011 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

Romo will own every Cowboys passing record

before his career is over, there is no question about it. Give him the defenses Staubach and Aikman had and he will have more victories and SB rings as well.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 4, 2011 7:04 PM CDT reply actions

You can say that again!

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jul 4, 2011 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Well played.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jul 4, 2011 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Romo will own every Cowboys passing record

before his career is over, there is no question about it. Give him the defenses Staubach and Aikman had and he will have more victories and SB rings as well.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 4, 2011 7:04 PM CDT reply actions

You can say that again!

Don't believe everything you think.

by dunkman on Jul 4, 2011 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Well played.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jul 4, 2011 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL- yall are funny

SB Nation's Dallas Cowboys Site, Blogging The Boys | Follow me @KDP10for10
Flood The Block Radio on THEFLOW, every Tuesday 730p on www.rocktheflow.com | The new social pulse of the DMV.

by KD Drummond on Jul 5, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

so you are telling me ryan leaf didnt make the cut and is not going to be able to jump ahead of a great qb again?

by rioplayer7 on Jul 5, 2011 8:59 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

unfortunately no

sorry man, I know his legion of fans (read: 2) are highly disappointed and will be claiming conspiracy

SB Nation's Dallas Cowboys Site, Blogging The Boys | Follow me @KDP10for10
Flood The Block Radio on THEFLOW, every Tuesday 730p on www.rocktheflow.com | The new social pulse of the DMV.

by KD Drummond on Jul 5, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Good stuff!

Aikman’s INT’s and other #‘s were weighed down by his early years with the team as they were “growing up” together. Getting out of the gate with 8 wins and 24 losses means you’re not likely to see numbers like the ones Roger had as he inherited a team from Craig Morton that was already highly competitive.

By the same token, White’s winning % was influenced by the fact that he inherited a pretty good team from Staubach.

I was surprised at Beuerlein being 4-0. I dated his cousin in college and she always said he should start over Aikman. Man, it is amazing what a man can tolerate to get some sugar!

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

by 5Blings on Jul 5, 2011 4:20 PM CDT reply actions