Dallas City News

We are at day 19 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 19.

Although he never got the chance to win a Super Bowl ring, one of the best players to wear number 19 for Dallas was none other than Miles Austin.

Miles Jonathon Austin III was born June 30, 1984 and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2006 after going undrafted in that year’s NFL Draft. Despite securing a position on the final roster during his rookie season, he primarily participated on special teams. His most significant moment of that year occurred during the Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks. Although the Dallas team was defeated, Austin’s remarkable 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter stood out as the highlight of the day.

In 2009, Austin led the NFC in receiving yards, accumulating a total of 1,320 yards. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in five games that season. The following year, Austin became the second player in Cowboys history to achieve double-digit receptions in consecutive weeks. He concluded the season with 69 receptions, 1,041 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The 2011 season proved challenging for Austin due to persistent hamstring injuries, which sidelined him for six games and resulted in his lowest statistics for receptions, touchdowns, and yardage since 2008. He recorded 43 receptions for 579 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the subsequent year, Austin’s ongoing injuries, coupled with Dez Bryant’s rise as the Cowboys’ primary wide receiver, hindered his pursuit of another 1,000 receiving yard season. Nevertheless, he had a commendable season, finishing with 943 receiving yards, 66 receptions, and six touchdowns. His final season with the Cowboys was disappointing, as he missed five games due to a left hamstring injury and returned to the field appearing less agile. He ended the season with his lowest output since his rookie year, making only 24 receptions for 244 yards without scoring. Following this season, he was released and signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

After a relatively uneventful season in Cleveland, Austin joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in the following offseason. His playing career concluded with the Eagles and would retire at the end of the year. Austin was honored with two Pro Bowl nominations during his time in Dallas, where he amassed 4,481 career receiving yards, ranking ninth in franchise history. His 34 receiving touchdowns remain the tenth highest for Dallas to this day.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images