Being the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys isn’t just a job in the NFL. It’s basically a role in a never-ending soap opera where every throw is scrutinized like a national security threat. Honestly, there is no middle ground in Arlington. You’re either the hero who’s going to finally bring home another Lombardi, or you’re the guy who’s supposedly "holding the roster back."
Since 1960, all Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks have had to deal with the ghost of Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman. It's a lot. We’re talking about 45 different men who have taken a snap as the primary starter. Some stayed for a decade; others, like Ryan Leaf or Clint Stoerner, were gone before the ink on their jerseys even dried.
The Mount Rushmore: Staubach, Aikman, and the Big Debates
When you talk about the greatest to ever do it in the Star, the conversation starts and ends with Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Staubach, famously known as "Captain America," didn't even start his career until he was 27 because of his naval service. Think about that for a second. Most guys are hitting their peak then, and he was just getting started. He finished with a 74.6% winning percentage, which is just stupidly high.
Then you have Troy Aikman.
People forget he went 0-11 as a rookie. Zero wins.
But he became the precise, surgical leader of the 90s dynasty. He wasn't about the flashy stats—mostly because he had Emmitt Smith taking 25 carries a game—but when he needed to hit a 15-yard dig on third-and-long, he never missed.
The Underappreciated Era of Danny White
Following Staubach was a literal nightmare. Danny White had to do it. While fans remember him for losing three straight NFC Championship games in the early 80s, the guy was a winner. He went 62-30 as a starter. He was also the team's punter! Can you imagine Dak Prescott dropping back on 4th down to boot a 50-yarder today? The internet would melt.
The Weird Gap and the Romo Revolution
After Troy Aikman retired in 2000, things got dark. Really dark.
The Cowboys cycled through names like Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, and a very old Vinny Testaverde. It was a carousel of mediocrity that felt like it would never end.
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Then came Tony Romo.
Undrafted out of Eastern Illinois. A placeholder for Drew Bledsoe who ended up becoming the franchise's most prolific passer at the time. Romo is the ultimate "what if" story. He had the spin moves, the backyard football style, and the stats (34,183 yards), but the lack of a deep playoff run still haunts his legacy for a lot of the older fan base. People kind of forget how much he carried some of those mid-2000s rosters that had no business being in the playoffs.
All Dallas Cowboys Quarterbacks: By the Numbers
If we look at the pure volume, the list of all Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks is longer than you’d think. Here is how the big names actually stack up in the record books as of early 2026:
- Dak Prescott: 35,989+ passing yards (The new all-time leader).
- Tony Romo: 34,183 yards.
- Troy Aikman: 32,942 yards.
- Roger Staubach: 22,700 yards.
- Danny White: 21,959 yards.
Dak Prescott recently passed Tony Romo for the most passing yards in franchise history. It happened during a Sunday night game against the Eagles in late 2025. Even with the records, the "Dak Discourse" is as loud as ever. He has a higher completion percentage (around 66.9%) than Aikman or Staubach ever did, but in Dallas, the only stat that silences the critics is the number of rings.
The One-Hit Wonders and Forgotten Names
Not everyone gets a Ring of Honor.
Remember Steve Beuerlein? He went 4-0 in 1991 when Aikman got hurt and actually won a playoff game.
What about Bernie Kosar? He came in for a few snaps during the 1993 NFC Championship game and earned a Super Bowl ring.
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Then there’s the 2020 season. After Dak's ankle injury, we saw Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert all try to steer the ship. It was a stark reminder that if you don't have "The Guy," you don't have a chance. Even Cooper Rush had his moment in the sun, going 4-1 as a starter in 2022 and keeping the season alive. He’s probably the most successful "backup" the team has had since the 90s.
What Most People Get Wrong About the QB1 Spot
The biggest misconception is that the "good old days" were always perfect.
In 1971, Tom Landry actually alternated Craig Morton and Roger Staubach every single play during a game against the Chicago Bears. Imagine the confusion. One play it’s Morton, the next it’s Staubach. They lost that game, obviously, and Landry finally picked Roger. The rest is history.
Another thing? The "game manager" label.
People call Aikman a game manager because he didn't put up 5,000 yards. But if you watch the tape of Super Bowl XXVII, he was nearly perfect. 22 of 30 for four touchdowns. That isn't managing; that's dominating.
Historical Context of Wins
Winning in Dallas is weighted differently.
- Aikman: 94 wins.
- Staubach: 85 wins.
- Prescott: 83 wins.
- Romo: 78 wins.
Dak is likely to become the winningest quarterback in team history by the end of the 2026 season if he stays healthy. But until he gets past the divisional round of the playoffs, he'll likely stay behind Staubach and Aikman in the hearts of the fans.
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Why the Position is Different in Dallas
You’ve got the Star on the helmet. You’ve got Jerry Jones talking to the media every Tuesday. You’ve got a fan base that spans the entire globe.
Most quarterbacks just have to worry about the opposing blitz. Cowboys QBs have to worry about the legacy of "America's Team." It’s a lot of pressure, and honestly, it’s why so many talented guys have crumbled under it.
If you're looking to really understand the depth of this history, start by watching some of the 1970s "Hail Mary" footage. It'll give you a sense of why Roger Staubach is still treated like a deity in North Texas. From there, compare the efficiency of the 90s offense to the high-flying, pass-heavy stats of the Romo and Prescott eras. You'll see that while the game has changed, the standard in Dallas hasn't shifted an inch.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the current NFL Hall of Fame ballot; Don Meredith is often discussed for senior committee induction.
- Review the 1971 season archives to see the Morton/Staubach "shuttle" system in action—it's one of the weirdest coaching decisions in football history.
- Look up the "Ice Bowl" highlights to see what Don Meredith had to deal with before the luxury of AT&T Stadium existed.