The 99-Yard Run That Cemented a Cowboy Legacy

The Dallas Cowboys of the late ’70s and early ’80s were a powerhouse, a dynasty in full force. Tom Landry’s squad was already a juggernaut — stacked with legends like Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and Randy White. But in 1977, they added one more piece of the puzzle: a lightning-fast, durable running back from Pitt named Tony Dorsett.

Dorsett came in with a résumé that spoke for itself: Heisman Trophy winner, all-time NCAA rushing leader, and a player who simply knew how to win. His rookie year? A Super Bowl title. Over the next decade, he helped the Cowboys stay at the top, leading them to multiple NFC Championship Games in the 1980s.

And then came one of the most jaw-dropping moments in NFL history.

On Jan. 3, 1983, in a Monday Night Football showdown against the Vikings, Dorsett did the impossible. With the Cowboys pinned at their own 1-yard line, he took a handoff from Danny White and sprinted 99 yards to the house — the longest rushing touchdown in NFL history. Oh, and the Cowboys only had 10 men on the field due to a substitution mistake.

No matter. Dorsett was too fast, too smooth, and too special.

It was the kind of play that defined his career — a moment of brilliance in the middle of an era where the Cowboys were always in the hunt for a title. Whether it was that 99-yard run, his 12,000+ career rushing yards, or the way he made breaking ankles look effortless, Tony Dorsett was, and always will be, one of the greatest to ever wear the Star.