Countdown to the season opener: Day 96 Dennis Thurman

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 96) 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 96.

Dennis Thurman

Born: April 13, 1956. Los Angeles, California
Position: Defensive Back
Dallas Cowboys: 1978–1985
Awards: N/A

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Dennis Thurman’s career started at Dallas in 1978 after being drafted in the 11th round of the NFL Draft after playing for USC. Though considered undersized and overlooked coming into the league, Thurman became a standout in the Cowboys’ secondary with his sharp instincts and playmaking ability. A versatile defensive back, he played both cornerback and safety, and was known for his knack for being around the ball.

Thurman played in Super Bowl XIII as a rookie, making a crucial special teams play but it wasn’t enough to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers that year. He had a career-high nine interceptions in 1981, and his 36 interceptions is fourth-most in Cowboys history to this day. Only DaRon Bland has more pick-sixes in team history, just another point to highlight his reputation as one of the most cerebral defenders of his era. Incredibly, he never missed a game in his nine year playing career.

Best known for:
Thurman was best known for his ball-hawking ability and football intelligence, leading the Cowboys in interceptions multiple times during his tenure.

Lesser known fact:
Thurman was so well disciplined and prepared he often studied opposing offenses in such depth that coaches relied on his input during game planning.