Countdown to the season opener: Day 99 Jack Del Rio

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 99) with some Cowboys history

We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we asked some of our writers to rank their top-100 players in Cowboys history using no particular criteria, and put the results together into one list. The further away you get from the top 20 or so, the more varied the opinions. Sometimes it is about more than just stats. Things like fame level, length of career in Dallas, the era they played in – all can affect where an individual might rank them. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.

Today – number 99.

Jack Del Rio

Born: April 4, 1963. Castro Valley, California
Position: Linebacker
Dallas Cowboys: 1989-1991

Jack Del Rio spent just three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after he was claimed off waivers in 1989. His arrival came during a time of major transition as Jimmy Johnson took over as head coach and had a certain philosophy when it came to the linebacker position. Though his time in Dallas was brief, Del Rio started all 16 games at linebacker in 1990 and 1991. He was a bright spot on a team that finished with a 1–15 record in 1989. Known for his toughness and football IQ,

Del Rio brought veteran leadership to a young, rebuilding roster before moving on to further success with the Minnesota Vikings. He left Dallas after racking up an impressive 292 total tackles and would later help the Baltimore Ravens to Super Bowl success as a linebacker coach with a highly talented unit that included Ray Lewis.

Best known for:
Del Rio was best known in Dallas for being a steady, reliable linebacker during the Cowboys’ difficult 1989 season under new head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Lesser known fact:
Del Rio is currently serving as head coach for the Paris Musketeers, which is part of the European League of Football (ELF).