Dallas City News

We are at day 43 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 43.

One of the all-time greatest Dallas Cowboys ever wore 43 for the team, and that is Cliff Harris.

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Clifford Allen Harris was born November 12, 1948 and went undrafted in the 1970 NFL Draft. Thankfully he would be picked up by Dallas. Harris teamed with Charlie Waters to become a dynamic duo that some fans revered as the top safety tandem in the league.

Harris, also known as “Captain Crash” due to his aggressive tackling, achieved the remarkable feat of making the starting lineup in his rookie year as an undrafted free agent. Despite having only one scholarship offer in college and being on a team that drafted 19 players that year, he made a significant impact and earned a roster spot. The Cowboys finished 10-4 in 1970 and reached their first Super Bowl, although they lost to Baltimore 16-13. The following season, they won the championship with the Doomsday Defense dominating in a 24-3 defeat of Miami in Super Bowl VI, with Harris playing a key role that year.

Photo by James Flores/Getty Images

During Harris’ ten-year tenure as safety, the Cowboys only failed to make the playoffs once and achieved a winning record in all ten seasons. Additionally, they secured seven NFC East titles and made it to seven NFC Championship Games. This period also marked the rise of the Cowboys as “America’s Team,” with Harris playing a significant role in ensuring that his team was consistently in the spotlight.

Harris was picked for six Pro Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro, earning a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team of the 1970s and securing two Super Bowl victories (VI, XII). He concluded his career with 29 interceptions (seventh-most for Dallas) and 18 fumble recoveries (second-most defensively). Additionally, he was recognized as one of the league’s top kick returners. In 2004, Harris was honored with a place in the Cowboys Ring of Honor, and in 2020, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Cliff Harris Award is an annual award that is given to the best Division II or small school Defensive Player of the Year.

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images