The Dallas Cowboys are woven into the fabric of the country as America’s Team. The quarterback slot is the premier position and puts the spotlight on those who play there. A look at the quarterbacks Dallas has drafted in its history.
*Don Meredith
The Dallas Cowboys franchise was admitted to the league too late to participate in the 1960 NFL Draft, so on Nov. 28, 1959, two days prior to the draft, Don Meredith signed a five-year personal services contract with Tecon Corporation which, like the Cowboys, was owned by Clint Murchison. This contract meant he would play for the Cowboys if and when they received an NFL franchise. He was also selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round (32nd overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft, after Bears owner George Halas made the pick to help ensure that the expansion Cowboys got off to a solid start. The league honored the contract, but made the Cowboys compensate the Bears with a third-round pick in the 1962 NFL Draft. He is considered by some to be the original Dallas Cowboy because he had come to the team even before the franchise had adopted a nickname, hired a head coach (Tom Landry), scout (Gil Brandt) or participated in either the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft or its first NFL Draft in 1961.