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Dallas Cowboys already in Hall welcome arrival of Bob Hayes

11:01 PM CDT on Saturday, August 8, 2009

By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com

Bios of the 10 Dallas Cowboys players currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bob Lilly

Defensive tackle, 1961-74
Inducted: 1980

The first player drafted by the Cowboys was also the first to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A two-time All-American at TCU, Lilly was named rookie of the year in 1961. He anchored the Cowboys' famous Doomsday Defense, setting a franchise record with 196 consecutive games played. "Mr. Cowboy" helped lead Dallas to victory in Super Bowl VI. He made 10 straight Pro Bowls, from 1964-1974.

Roger Staubach

Quarterback, 1969-79
Inducted: 1985

Drafted in 1964, Staubach didn't start playing for the Cowboys until he completed his service in the Navy. He combined a strong arm with an exciting scrambling style. He also had a flair for the dramatic, earning the nickname "Captain Comeback" with 23 fourth-quarter comeback wins. He made it to six Pro Bowls while leading Dallas to seven division titles and two Super Bowl victories. Finishing with 22,700 passing yards and 153 touchdowns, he was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1983.

Tom Landry

Coach, 1960-88
Inducted: 1990

He helped start the franchise before the 1960 season and was the coach for the first 29 years. After going 0-11-1 the first year, Landry turned the Cowboys into America's Team, unveiling numerous innovations while compiling a 270-178-6 record, including playoffs. Among his many contributions to the NFL were the pre-snap motion and the Flex Defense. Prowling the sideline in a fedora, Landry guided the Cowboys to 13 divisional crowns, five NFC titles and two Super Bowls (VI and XII).

Tex Schramm

President and general manager, 1959-89
Inducted: 1991

Texas Earnest Schramm Jr. was the franchise visionary. He supervised the team's birth and molded it into a league leader on many fronts. Schramm was instrumental in creating the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the Ring of Honor and the annual Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium. His tenure included 18 playoffs and two Super Bowl victories. He also helped orchestrate the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

Tony Dorsett

Running back, 1977-87
Inducted: 1994

After he won the Heisman Trophy at Pittsburgh, the Cowboys sent four draft picks to Seattle for the right to draft him in 1977. He immediately made an impact with 1,007 yards rushing as a rookie, then posted four straight 1,000-yard seasons. He helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII, made four Pro Bowls and finished with 12,739 rushing yards, fifth-most in NFL history.

Randy White

Defensive tackle, 1975-88
Inducted: 1994

The second overall pick in the 1975 draft, White terrorized opposing offenses for 14 seasons. He was dubbed the "Manster" – half man, half monster – for his furious style. He ranked third in franchise history with 1,104 tackles and 701 solo tackles. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, the co-MVP of Super Bowl XII and the 1978 defensive player of the year.

Mel Renfro

Defensive back, 1964-77
Inducted: 1996

Coach Tom Landry converted the running back from Oregon into a defensive back. Fourteen years later, Renfro was considered one of the best ever. He played six seasons at safety then switched to cornerback. His career included 52 interceptions, 10 Pro Bowls, eight NFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls. He returned two punts for touchdowns in the 1971 Pro Bowl.

Troy Aikman

Quarterback, 1989-2000
Inducted: 2006

The first player taken in the 1989 draft, Aikman suffered through an 0-11 season as a rookie starter. But he finished his career as the franchise leader in passing yards (32,942) and touchdown passes (165). He was only the third player in NFL history to lead his team to three world titles. Under his leadership, the Cowboys claimed Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX. He earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXVII, a 52-17 win over Buffalo, with four touchdown passes.

Rayfield Wright

Offensive tackle, 1967-79
Inducted: 2006

Wright played tight end, offensive and defensive tackle during his first three seasons. He took up permanent residence at right tackle in 1970 and went on to become one of the best offensive linemen in Cowboys history. The six-time Pro Bowler played in five Super Bowls, winning two. Two years after being inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2004, he was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Michael Irvin

Wide receiver, 1988-99
Inducted: 2007

The bold receiver from the University of Miami backed up his brash talk with results. He led by example, and his ability to make things happen earned him "The Playmaker" tag. He tied or broke 20 franchise receiving records with 750 career receptions, 11,904 yards and 47 100-yard games. A five-time Pro Bowler, he helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls. Disclaimer: Other Hall of Famers appeared for the Cowboys, but these players spent the bulk of their careers in Dallas.

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