The history of the Dallas Cowboys features some of the greatest defensive backs of all time. When evaluating their impact, statistics, and championships, the best cornerbacks in the franchise’s history are:
1. Mel Renfro (1964–1977)
He is almost unanimously considered the best cornerback in team history. A Hall of Fame member, Renfro started as a safety but established himself at corner. He is the franchise’s all-time leader with 52 interceptions, made 10 consecutive Pro Bowls, and won two Super Bowl rings under Tom Landry.
2. Everson Walls (1981–1989)
He joined the team as an undrafted free agent and ended up making history. Walls ranks second in Dallas history for interceptions with 44 takeaways. He holds the impressive record of leading the entire NFL in interceptions in three different seasons (1981, 1982, and 1985), an unprecedented achievement for the franchise.
3. Deion “Prime Time” Sanders (1995–1999)
Although he played for several teams, his time in Dallas was iconic. Considered by many as the best pure cornerback in NFL history, Sanders arrived in Dallas in 1995 as the final piece to win Super Bowl XXX. During his 5 years with the Cowboys, he earned 4 All-Pro selections, completely shutting down opposing wide receivers on his famous “Deion Island.”
4. Cornell Green (1962–1974)
A legend from the golden era of the ’60s and ’70s. Green never played college football (he was a basketball player), but Tom Landry transformed him into a fearsome cornerback. He recorded 34 interceptions, was selected to 5 Pro Bowls, and is a member of the Cowboys’ prestigious Ring of Honor.
5. Terence Newman (2003–2011)
The standard-bearer of the modern Cowboys era. Chosen with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 Draft, Newman provided tremendous consistency for nearly a decade. He racked up 32 interceptions with the Lone Star on his helmet and defended 155 pases, establishing himself as one of the most underrated yet effective cornerbacks in the franchise.
Special Mentions for Immediate Impact
Trevon Diggs / DaRon Bland: They represent the present and future of the position. Diggs shocked the world by leading the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021, while Bland broke the NFL all-time record with his 5 pick-sixes in 2023.
Larry Brown: He played from 1991 to 1995 and became the first cornerback to win Super Bowl MVP (Super Bowl XXX) after intercepting two key passes.
