Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys: 5 best running backs of all-time

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:17 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Randy Gurzi/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

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

They're one of the more prominent franchises in NFL history, the Dallas Cowboys. Winners of five Super Bowls, they're also one of the most successful. In order to get there, they had to have had some serious stars along the way. In this series we will look at some of the best to wear the star — beginning with the running back position.

Currently the team features 2016 fourth-overall pick Ezekiel Elliott. The Ohio State product came into the league with a lot of hype. The Cowboys were adding the best running back in the NCAA to run behind the best offensive line in the NFL.

The result was a thing of a beauty as Elliott led the league un rushing with 1,631 yards despite playing just 15 games as he was rested in their final outing — much to his chagrin.

After one season he won't be able to crack the top five all-time for Dallas Cowboys running backs, although If he keeps playing like he did in 2016 he sure will. As it stands now, here are the five best running backs to play for the Dallas Cowboys.

Jun 16, 2015; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former players Calvin Hill (left) and Randy White talk during minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

5. Calvin Hill — Six seasons (1969-74)

Career Rushing Yards and touchdowns: 6,083 – 42
Yards and touchdowns as a Cowboy: 5,009 – 39

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The Dallas Cowboys spent a first-round pick on Yale grad Calvin Hill in 1969. The selection was noteworthy because Hill was the first ever Ivy school kid taken in round one of the NFL draft. Although he wasn't expected to be a running back when selected, he was moved from tight end to halfback when the team was desperate due to injuries.

They weren't disappointed in his transition to the spot as Hill won the Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl as well as the All-Pro team. It was the first of his four appearances on the Pro Bowl team and one of his two All-Pro nods.

After his time in Dallas was done, Hill rushed for over 6,000 yards and was a Super Bowl champion. From there he had a spell in the World Football League and then ended up playing on one of the Boys biggest rivals as Hill played two seasons with the Washington Redskins. His career ended after four years with the Cleveland Browns — in which he had just 516 yards.

His sports contribution didn't end there, though. Hill is the father of former NBA star Grant Hill.

Oct 12, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) rushes for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of a 26-20 Dallas victory at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

4. DeMarco Murray — Four seasons in Dallas (2011-14)

Career Rushing Yards and touchdowns: 6,515 – 43
Yards and touchdowns as a Cowboy: 4,526 – 28

His time in Dallas didn't end well, but DeMarco Murray was a beast when he was healthy for them. A third-round pick in 2011, Murray averaged 4.8 yards per attempt during his time in Big D. The problem was, he struggled to stay healthy for them and missed games in every season until his last in a Dallas uniform.

That 2014 season in which Murray was on the field for every game, he was a workhorse. The veteran back had 392 carries which led to him being the top rusher in the NFL with 1,845 yards and a career high 13 touchdowns. He then became a free agent and seemed to feel disrespected by the team's offer to him.

Eventually he signed a hefty contract with divisional rival Philadelphia. With the Eagles he struggled mightily and had a career low 3.6 yards per rush and just 702 yards. He was then sent to the Tennessee Titans and proved he was just a bad fit with them as Murray was back on track in 2016.

Although they're set with Zeke now, it's fun to think about what could have happened in Murray and the Cowboys could have come to an accord before the 2015 season.

3. Don Perkins — Eight Seasons in Dallas (1961-68)

Career Rushing Yards and touchdowns: 6,217 – 42
Yards and touchdowns as a Cowboy: 6,217 – 42

Although Don Perkins was technically a fullback, he was a fantastic runner out of the backfield. During his eight-year career, he was consistently a top-10 rusher. A model of consistency, Perkins never topped the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for Dallas, he also never had less than 614 yards in a year either.

The most productive season of his career came in 1962 (his second year in the league) when he had 222 rushes for 945 yards and seven touchdowns. On top of his ability as a running back, Perkins was highly regarded as a blocker — which explains why he moved to fullback in 1963.

When he stepped away from the game in 1968, Perkins was the fifth-leading rusher in the game and wound up in the Cowboys Ring of Honor for his work.

Perkins nearly wasn't a Cowboys player at all. He was a ninth-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in the 1960 draft, but he signed a personal service contract with Dallas in 1959. After missing his rookie season with a broken foot he suited up for Dallas and the rest was of course, history.

2. Tony Dorsett — 11 seasons in Dallas (1977-87)

Career Rushing Yards and touchdowns: 12,739 – 77
Yards and touchdowns as a Cowboy: 12,036 – 72

The Dallas Cowboys traded their first-round pick and three second-round selections in order to move up in the 1977 NFL Draft for the right to take Pittsburgh running back Tony Dorsett. He was listed under 200 pounds, which worried some scouts, but America's Team was happy to make him a part of their franchise.

He would spend the next 11 seasons wowing fans with his running style. As a rookie, he had 1,007 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Dorsett would follow that up with four more seasons with over 1,000 yards before an injury shortened season stopped the streak. He did continue to hit the mark again for the next three seasons.

When his time with Dallas was done, Dorsett had rushed for 12,036 yards and had 72 touchdowns for them. He spent his last year with the Denver Broncos and had 703 yards and five touchdowns. Dorsett is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and won a Super Bowl as well during his time in the league. But he may be most famous for his 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings.

1. Emmitt Smith — 13 seasons in Dallas (1990-2002)

Career Rushing Yards and touchdowns: 18,355 – 164
Yards and touchdowns as a Cowboy: 17,162 – 153

Emmitt Smith was the biggest piece the Cowboys received when they traded Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. It was the trade that helped them become a dynasty and win three Super Bowls. The running back was an integral part of all of those championships and even was awarded a Super Bowl MVP.

Smith was a beast for Dallas and had ten seasons with 1,000 rushing yards or more. His best year was in 1995 when he rushed for 1,773 yards and had 25 rushing touchdowns. He was also named to eight Pro Bowls and was the leader in rushing yards and touchdowns four times during his time in Dallas.

Once Smith's time in Dallas was done he was the leading rusher all-time in the NFL. He spent two more seasons in the league playing for the Arizona Cardinals. He wasn't the same player he was for the Boys, but added another 1,193 yards rushing and 11 more touchdowns to his his career numbers.

As of now He is still the most productive back in NFL history with 18,355 yards on the ground.

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