Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor


The Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor was a ring around Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas and currently around AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas which honors former players, coaches and club officials who made outstanding contributions to the Dallas Cowboys football organization.
The Ring of Honor was created by Tex Schramm and began on November 23, 1975, which was designated in Dallas as Bob Lilly Day. On that day, the team held the first Cowboys reunion and unveiled Lilly's name and jersey number beneath the press box during half time. As the first honoree, Lilly donned his Cowboy uniform once more and graciously accepted the honor, along with numerous other gifts, which included a car, a gun and a hunting dog. Also present at the event were Cowboys owner Clint Murchison, president/general manager Tex Schramm and Head Coach Tom Landry. As the first inductee, Lilly has the distinction of returning to present each new member into the RoH. Only nine players received the honor during the first three decades of the Cowboys existence, making the RoH a coveted achievement, true to the dream envisioned by Schramm, who became the 12th person selected to the Ring of Honor; the award was given posthumously in October 2003, a few months after he died.
In 2005, three former Cowboys all-stars were simultaneously inducted during half time ceremonies on Monday Night Football. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin, known as "The Triplets", were part of the 1990s Three-Time Super Bowl Championship Cowboys team.
Ring of Honor inductees have been chosen by the former president-general manager, Tex Schramm and then by owner Jerry Jones. Schramm set a precedent by placing a high value on the character of the inductees. There was controversy over the selection of Michael Irvin due to his drug charges.
In 2017, the Ring of Honor was extended when the walkway was built with the former players' numbers in front of Ford Center, Cowboys' indoor practice facility.
On November 1, 2015 Darren Woodson became the 21st member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.
On November 29, 2018, Gil Brandt became the 22nd member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.
In total, the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor includes 19 players, 2 executives, and 1 head coach.

Inductees

Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist
Inducted or Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

No.NamePosition Years With ClubInducted
74Bob LillyDT1961-1974November 23, 1975
17Don MeredithQB1960-1968November 7, 1976
43Don PerkinsFB1961-1968November 7, 1976
54Chuck HowleyLB1961-1973October 30, 1977
20Mel RenfroCB1964-1977October 25, 1981
12Roger StaubachQB1969-1979October 9, 1983
55Lee Roy JordanLB, C1963-1976October 29, 1989
—Tom LandryHead Coach1960-1988November 7, 1993
33Tony DorsettRB1977-1987October 9, 1994
54Randy WhiteDT, LB, DE1975-1988October 9, 1994
22Bob HayesWR1965-1974September 23, 2001
—Tex SchrammGeneral Manager1960-1989October 12, 2003
43Cliff HarrisS1970-1979October 10, 2004
70Rayfield WrightOT1967-1979October 10, 2004
8Troy AikmanQB1989-2000September 19, 2005
88Michael IrvinWR1988-1999September 19, 2005
22Emmitt SmithRB1990-2002September 19, 2005
88Drew PearsonWR1973-1983November 6, 2011
94Charles HaleyDE1992-1996November 6, 2011
73Larry AllenOG, OT1994-2005November 6, 2011
28Darren WoodsonS1992-2004November 1, 2015
—Gil BrandtVP Player Personnel1960-1988November 29, 2018