Alvin Craig Harper (born July 6, 1967) is a former football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints. With first-round pick CeeDee Lamb wearing the historic number, let's look at who wore the number before him. He's a determined, talented player who appears to have finally turned the corner. Something went wrong. Hegman is most famous for a fumble recovery off of Terry Bradshaw that he returned 37 yards for the score in a Super Bowl XIII loss to the Steelers. All rights reserved. In eight seasons, he started all 127 career games he appeared in, notching 545 tackles, 10 interceptions, four pick-sixes, 7.5 sacks, six fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles. Harper was replaced with Robb Thomas in the second half of the sixth game against the Minnesota Vikings and would lose his job as the starter at wide receiver. Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1990. He also went to one Pro Bowl as a member of the Cowboys. Do you have a sports website? He was also the MVP of the 1991 Hula Bowl, and finished his NCAA football career with 103 receptions for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns. In fact, even Randy White started out as a linebacker for the Cowboys at first. Iconic numbers in franchise history, such as Bob Lily' No. On an abysmal 1-15 team in 1989, Lockhart amassed a ridiculous 222 tackles which led the NFL and was a Cowboys club record. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He was a two-time All-Pro selection in '95 and '99. He tragically passed away in 1999 at the age of 39 but he will always be remembered as one of. Why does AC Milan have such high numbers? To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He led the Cowboys defense in tackles four of his seven seasons in Dallas. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. [9] He was declared inactive in the last 3 games of the season. Andrie ranks fifth on the Cowboys all-time sack leaders list. Join our linker program. He is a very explosive playerthe type who can turn a short play into a big play in a hurry, because he has excellent running ability and speed.. 3 biggest draft needs for the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the NFL combine. The following players have all worn 80 for the Dallas Cowboys: Rod Barksdale, WR Gary Barnes, WR Martellus Bennett, TE Anthony Fasano, TE Lee Folkins, TE Bernard Ford, WR Everett Gay, WR. Overall, Tuinei would appear in over 200 games including the postseason, making over 160 starts at left tackle. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 2:31PM. Sign up for the He was drafted in the sixth round and played most of his career next to . Analysis: The Cowboys traded John Niland in 1977 for the 62nd overall pick in the third round which netted Tony Hill to the Cowboys. Hes one of the NFLs first elite pass rushers and hes getting his justification in this post. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Or write about sports? The Cowboys do not formally retire uniform numbers, but there are certain players that have reached an elevated status. After five seasons and 75 appearances at guard, he was moved to center, where he remained for nine more seasons. It looks as if Pearson fits the description of a great player that was tier one quality but was being viewed as a second-tier player. There are many people who believed then, and still do, that he had more talent than fellow wideout Michael Irvin. 3): Dallas goes corner, receiver in the first couple of rounds. After one year, Rafferty was the starting right guard and longsnapper on field goals too. Harper played in Dallas for four years as the Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, both against the Buffalo Bills. Do not duplicate in any form without permission of the Dallas Cowboys. In this series, were rating the greatest, or most memorable, Cowboys of all time at each number available. 3 TE Anthony Fasano, No. Please enter a valid email and try again. Analysis: The first player on this list that doesnt have the stellar resum of the rest of these guys. He started 180 of 191 career games, recovered five fumbles for the offense, was a two time All-Pro, and three-time Super Bowl champion. He was an unsung Cowboys hero an fan favorite. As a senior, he earned All-Southeastern Conference Freshman First-team honors in 1987, and All-Southeastern Conference first-team honors in 1990. In turn, some numbers have a strong lineage of great football careers that make it hard to choose and others make you question whether that number needs a winner. Harper attended Frostproof High School, where he was an outstanding football player, earning USA Today high school All-American honors as a senior in 1986. While Harpers 1992 NFC Championship play is one of the all-time greats, its not enough to give him the nod as our best 80. His jersey number 80 was used by Ernie Mills, so he chose to wear number 82. The late, great Tom Landry even said of Tony, Our Home Run Hitter. Irvin, who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was the Cowboys' emotional leader during their three-Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s. Digging into the Cowboys' salary cap situation, rookie signings, Dan Quinn and more! In nine years with the Cowboys, he started 113 games and only missed two games in his entire career. A tracker for all Dallas Cowboys visits happening in Indianapolis. We present them here for purely educational purposes. A tracker for all Dallas Cowboys visits happening in Indianapolis. Smith reached out to Romo to discuss wearing his number, according to ESPN.com. Analysis: Larry Cole was the first University of Hawaii player drafted to an NFL franchise when he was taken in the 16th round in 1968s Draft. He was also a first-team All-Pro in 1978 as well as two time second-team All-Pro in 1979 and 1985. Who wore 88 before Lamb? Who were the best, or most memorable, Cowboys of all time by the numbers that they wore from one to 99? Scott was one of the guys credited with making the sealing block on Tony Dorsetts 99-yard touchdown run of 1983. In turn, some numbers have a strong lineage of great football careers that make it hard to choose and others make you question whether that number needs a winner. A daily roundup of all your Dallas Cowboys news from Blogging The Boys, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Blogging The Boys, a Dallas Cowboys fan community, By the numbers: Most memorable Cowboys to ever wear #71-80, Cowboys mock draft (Ver. Find out more. Do you have a blog? He began to blossom into a big-play receiver. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Still, Coakley made the All-Rookie team and was a beloved member of the team. 1979 defensive linemen allowed to wear Nos. Let's roll. Either way, its great for offseason fodder before we gear up for training camp. He tragically passed away in 1999 at the age of 39 but he will always be remembered as one of the greatest offensive linemen in Cowboys history. Harper was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (12th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft, in order to find a receiving partner for starter Michael Irvin. Cowboys coaches room needs to be clear about what success means in 2023, What to do in the off-season: A guide for Dallas Cowboys fans, Fixing the Cowboys, Part 1: Jerry Jones and the Front Office. Martin amassed 85 tackles and 23 sacks, which if officially recognized, would beat out Michael Strahans NFL record. With approximately four minutes to go in the NFC Championship game, up by 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, with a trip to Pasadena and Super Bowl XXVII on the lineAlvin Harper stepped into Cowboys History. Though he dropped in the 1994 Draft due to small school concerns and injury, the Cowboys were elated to pick him up in the second round. Analysis: The rules are such that we have to pick one winner but this one was hard not to put Chuck Howley up there with him. On June 11, 1997, the Washington Redskins signed him, gambling that he could flourish again after being reunited with head coach Norv Turner. 4 Tight End Lee Folkins, 5th TE Bernard Ford (WR), Everett Gay (WR), Alvin Harper (WR), Rod Harris (WR), and Tony Hill round out the top ten (WR). Ezekiel Elliott has been rather quiet this offseason, letting his play on the field speak for itself. Analysis: Now, Zack Martin may be on his way to claiming this number but hes got a ways to go in order to catch up with the most accomplished of Cowboys in this spot. Fasano has been a key part of the New York Jets' offense since being selected by them with the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Tyron Smith is the premier left tackle in football over the past several seasons starting 105 of 112 possible games. Harper now resides in Winter Haven, Florida. Either way, its great for offseason fodder before we gear up for training camp. In ten seasons, Lett started 73 of 109 career games, was a two time Pro Bowler, and three time Super Bowl champion. Please enter a valid email and try again. 3): Dallas goes corner, receiver in the first couple of rounds. Oops. Jordan started 173 of 186 career games and has the franchise record for 743 solo tackles accredited to him. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. He delivered the ball perfectly, as Norv Turner recalled in Troy Aikman’s Hall of Fame induction, to Alvin Harper between the numbers. 3 For The Final Three", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alvin_Harper&oldid=1135980263, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 01:29. Visit ESPN to view the Dallas Cowboys team roster for the current season Marty B wasnt exactly the torchbearer that were looking for in an 80, but two guys do stand out above the rest. It has long been suspected that, if the NFL relaxed its rules around jersey numbers, Smith mightopt to wear his old number No. Reggie Rucker, WR, 197071 If the former undrafted free agent from Boston College had lasted with the Cowboys for the whole 1971 season, he would have become the first player to wear No. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Either way, its great for offseason fodder before we gear up for training camp. As if there wasn't enough excitement for the start of training camp, HBO announced Friday that the Cowboys will be the featured team for its hit documentary series, "Hard Knocks.". Following the 1978 season, Jones left the NFL to pursue a career in boxing and went 6-0 with five knockouts before returning to the Cowboys in 1980. Were not interested in what these players did in their careers, just how they performed while they were a part of Americas Team. Lamb went to school with several Cowboys including quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. In doing research for this, you find that its fun because of how much of a mixed bag it truly is. Finally, in his second to last season, Andrie was able to call himself a Super Bowl champion after the Cowboys defeated the Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI. The Cowboys were a better team with the All-Pro center Gurode in the lineup. Sign up for the 88 has been passed down through several generations of receiver, from Drew Pearson to Michael Irvin to Dez Bryant and now to CeeDee Lamb. Scott was also a key member in the Cowboys 1977 Super Bowl championship team. Henderson had too many off field problems and his career in Dallas was short-lived though he did win the 1977 Super Bowl with the team. He had 4 receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns in the fifth game against the Detroit Lions. Jalen Ramsey: Should the Cowboys make a play for the playmaker? Smith started 29 of 59 career games in Dallas. The 1975 and 1979 seasons were good enough to be Pro Bowl seasons, but he was ultimately left off. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. In 1979 Dial 80 helped the Cowboys etch their place in NFL History as he, Drew Pearson, and Tony Dorsett became the first team in NFL History to have two receivers top 1,000 receiving yards and a running back rush for over 1,000 yards. Third-year safety Donovan Wilson, who had been wearing No. With first-round pick CeeDee Lamb wearing the historic number, lets look at who wore the number before him. With the NFL combine this week, these are the three biggest positional needs for the Dallas Cowboys in the draft. Besides, those two blunders in 1993 didnt stop the Cowboys from winning Super Bowl XXVII. In that same period of time, Smith has paved the way for two rushing titles and two other Top-10 performances. Who is the only MLB player to wear his birthday on the back of his jersey? AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 37 to this point in his career, is also switching into his college number, No. Harper finished his eight NFL seasons with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, and Ring of Honor member. With the NFL combine this week, these are the three biggest positional needs for the Dallas Cowboys in the draft. He dabbled with tight end and even a little defensive lineman before he was finally made a tackle in 1969 for the injured Ralph Neely. Analysis: His is a story of triumph and tragedy but there is no more deserving player to ever wear this number in Cowboys history though Lael Collins is doing well with it now. 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