Don Meredith

Don Meredith, drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1960 NFL draft, became one of the inaugural players for the Dallas Cowboys after his rights were acquired by the team. Prior to his professional career, Meredith excelled as a quarterback for Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 1957 to 1959, leading the Southwest Conference in passing completion percentage each year. His exceptional collegiate performance earned him All-America selections in both 1958 and 1959, paving the way for his storied NFL tenure. Assuming the role of full-time starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in 1963, Meredith quickly established himself as a dominant force in the league.

In recognition of his enduring legacy, Meredith was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1976, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982, and received the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983. Southern Methodist University further honored his impact by retiring his jersey number 17 in 2008.