Dallas Cowboys

Here are the 1972 Dallas Cowboys. In 1970, with QB Craig Morton at the helm, the Cowboys finished 10-4, won the NFC but lost Super Bowl V to the Colts. In 1971, they switched to QB Roger Staubach, went 11-3 and won Super Bowl V1. In 1972, they would drop to 10-4 (2nd place behind the Redskins) and lost the NFC Championship game to Washington. What happened in one year? It may have been the fact that QB Roger Staubach only played in 4 games, starting none.


#200 Roger Staubach - Staubach was drafted by Dallas in 1964. After fulfilling his Navy obligations, he joined the team in 1969 and backed up Craig Morton for 2 seasons. In his first season as a starter (1971), the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. After missing most of 1972, he returned to start every game from 1973-1979, and played in 3 more Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XII. Staubach was a 6-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.


#180 Duane Thomas - Duane Thomas was the Cowboys' #1 pick in the 1970 draft. A talented runner, he was also a problem for team management. After his rookie season, a contract dispute led the Cowboys to trade him to the Patriots, but after conflicting with his new coach, the league voided the trade and sent him back to Dallas. No matter, he rushed the Cowboys all the way to a Super Bowl victory. The next off-season, he was traded to the Chargers, who cut him during training camp. After missing the 1972 season, he played 2 final seasons with the Redskins.


#224 Calvin Hill - Calvin Hill was the Cowboys' #1 pick in the 1969 draft. He was their primary halfback from 1969-74 (except for 1971, being replaced by Duane Thomas). In 1975, he jumped to the World Football League, where he played for The Hawaiians. After one season, he returned to the NFL as a backup for the Redskins (1976-77) and Browns (1978-81). He is the father of NBA player Grant Hill.

#301 Walt Garrison - Garrison was the Cowboys' 5th-round pick in the 1966 draft. He played his entire career (1966-74) with Dallas, first as a kick returner, then taking over the starting fullback job from the retired Don Perkins in 1969. In the off-season, he was a rodeo cowboy.

#248 Lance Alworth - Alworth was one of the all-time great AFL receivers, playing flanker for the San Diego Chargers from 1962 to 1970. He led the AFL in touchdowns ('64, '65, '66), catches ('66, '68, '69), and receiving yards ('65, '66, '68). He came to the Cowboys in 1971, and was a starting wide receiver (not tight end, as the card indicates) for 2 seasons, before retiring. Lance was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.


#105 Bob Hayes - Hayes was an Olympic sprinting champion in 1964, earning the name "World's Fastest Man". After being drafted by the Cowboys in 1964, he was their starting split end from 1965 to 1973. After one more season in Dallas, he finished his career in 1975 with the 49ers. He was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, seven years after his death.


#329 John Niland - John was the Cowboys' #1 pick (5th overall) in 1966. He was the team's starting left guard from 1966 to 1974, before finishing his career in 1975 as the Eagles' starting left guard. Niland was a 6-time Pro Bowler (1968-73).


#316 Rayfield Wright - Wright was drafted by Dallas in 1967, and played his entire career (1967-79) with the Cowboys. Originally a tight end, he switched to offensive tackle in 1968, and was the team's starting right tackle from 1970-76, and 1978. A 6-time Pro Bowler, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.


#27 Mike Clark - Clark kicked for the Eagles (1963) and Steelers (1964-67) before joining the Cowboys as their kicker from 1968 to 1971. Mike led the NFL in PAT in 1968 and 1971. He returned to the Cowboys briefly in 1973.


#145 Bob Lilly - Lilly was the Cowboys' #1 draft pick in 1961. Bob played his entire career (1961-74) for Dallas, starting at left defensive end (1961-63) and right defensive tackle (1964-74). An 11-time Pro Bowler, he was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1980.


#66 Herb Adderley - Herb was the Packers' #1 pick in the 1961 draft. He started at left cornerback through all the glory years (1961-69), appearing in 2 Super Bowls with the Packers. He finished his career as the Cowboys starting left cornerback from 1970-72, playing in 2 more Super Bowls. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.


Also check out the 1967, 1968, and 1971 Cowboys.


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