In 62 years, the Dallas Cowboys have won five Super Bowls, two in the 1970s and three in the 90s. Although they are tied for the second most titles by any franchise, they have not raised the Lombardi trophy in 26 years. Finishing ringless as a player is a tough pill to swallow at the end of a career.
Plenty of great talents spent their time with the Cowboys and never won a Super Bowl. With many Dallas players missing out on a Super Bowl opportunity, here are the top five best Cowboys without a ring.
5. Don Perkins
At 5-foot-10, 200-pounds, Don Perkins became the greatest fullback in Cowboys history. He played all eight years of his career for “America’s Team.”
He won Rookie of the Year in 1961 and earned his only All-Pro honors the following season. Perkins added six Pro Bowls to his career accolades. In 1,500 attempts, the fullback ran for 6,217 yards, which ranks fourth in the franchise’s history. He added 42 rushing touchdowns.
Perkins became the fifth person in league history to run for over 6,000 yards. Although Perkins finished ringless, he is a member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.
4. Dez Bryant
A fan favorite and well known for his “X” touchdown celebration, Dez Bryant developed into one of the best receivers during his NFL tenure. Selected in the first round of the 2010 Draft, Bryant’s electrifying play turned him into Tony Romo’s favorite target.
One of the great receivers for the franchise to wear No. 88, he was named to three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. He led the NFL in touchdowns (16) in 2016 and is the Cowboys’ all-time TD leader (73). Bryant’s 7,459 receiving yards with Dallas is fifth all-time in the organization’s history.
The wide receiver was released in the 2018 offseason and tore his Achilles that season. He missed two years before playing six games with Baltimore. Bryant has not seen the gridiron since 2020.
3. Flozell Adams
Dallas’ second-round pick in 1998 anchored the offensive line for 12 years and had the opportunity to block for Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. However, he did not play with both franchise QBs for very long. Adams joined the team at the beginning of the 26-year Super Bowl drought.
After his rookie campaign, the left tackle started every game he played for the Cowboys. Adams made five Pro Bowls and one Second-Team All-Pro.
The OT never had any postseason luck, only winning one career playoff game with the Cowboys. Catching nearly the first half of the team’s failure to reach the Super Bowl, Adams finds himself on the ringless list.
2. Tony Romo
Tony Romo went from an undrafted quarterback from Eastern Illinois to topping the Cowboys’ passing statistics. His failure in big games and lack of championship runs created a love-hate relationship with the Dallas fans. Do not mention the botched snap in 2006.
Spending 13 years with the Cowboys, Romo leads the franchise with 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdowns. He added four Pro Bowls to his resumé.
Romo was a part of Dallas teams with an unreliable offensive line and a mediocre defense at best. He faced a few injuries in his playing days. The QB finished with a 2-4 playoff record and never advanced past the divisional round.
2014 was arguably Romo’s best chance for a Super Bowl run, but the Dez Bryant controversial “catch” robbed Dallas of a victory. The QB posted his best season and finished third in AP MVP voting. Unable to stay healthy the next two years, Romo retired and went ringless in his career.
1. Jason Witten
One of the greatest tight ends to put on the pads, Witten tops the Cowboys in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Not only is he the most successful tight end for Dallas, but he is one of the greatest all-time at his position.
Witten played 16 years for the Cowboys and never appeared in an NFC championship game. He only missed one game for Dallas and was one of the most dependable targets. Witten’s teammates admire his toughness and leadership.
The two-time All-Pro ranks fourth all-time in the NFL in receptions and second among all TEs in yards. In 2012, Witten won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. There is no doubt he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and will be one of the best to retire ringless.