DON PERKINS The First GOAT RB In Dallas Cowboys History! A Complete Career Breakdown!

[@janetk2564]

My husbands football story. When my husband was a child he bought his first pack of football cards. Don Perkins was in that pack. So my husband became a Cowboys fan. He still has that football card of Perkins today.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@janetk2564 Wow! Thanks for sharing that.

[@paulwidener5691]

@@janetk2564 don’t ever lose it

[@aaropajari7058]

That is the EXACT reason I became a Cowboys/Herschel Walker fan!

[@drakulie]

Phenomenal story thanks for sharing.

[@johnhardman825]

I still have my signed Bob Lilly card. He signed it for me at the Big Town Monkey Wards in the late 60's.

[@TheCowboysHistorian]

Every player from 1964 till today that ranked in the top 5 all time in rushing yards is in the Hall of Fame...except Don Perkins! He is a Hall of Famer and deserves his flowers

[@dman486]

Awesome another one of my favorite underrated players. Perkins was great Cowboy and UNM Lobo. Thanks for the video and keep them coming.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@dman486 Appreciate you, bro! There wasn’t a lot of footage of interviews when Perkins was still in the league. Kind of took away from the video. But he was a legend I had to still do the video.

[@anthonytaylor7928]

He's not underrated

[@anthonytaylor7928]

The first all pro and pro bowler in cowboy history? Whats underrated about that? Why do folks like u use the word underrated on KZbin so darn much

[@73Trident]

I had the great pleasure of talking to Don Perkins in 1973. He was the guest speaker at my High School athletic banquet in Socorro NM. My basketball coach was a Lobo(Ron Becker) and arranged for Don to be there. Being a Cowboy fan it was great. But the biggest thrill was that my Mother and Father got to talk to him too. My was Mom was the biggest Cowboy fan in the world or so I believe, Her headstone has a Cowboy helmet on it. She was a subscriber to the Dallas Cowboy Weekly for decades. Before the internet that's how she kept up on the Cowboys. If my Mom was alive she would be a subscriber to your channel LC.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@73Trident Wow! That would have been an honor! Your Mom sounds like she rocked! RIP. Appreciate you brother!

[@davidroman1654]

I had a subscription to the Dallas Cowboys Weekly as well. Also always bought the Dallas Cowboys Magazine each season. Was the forerunner to Dave Campbell Texas Football Magazine of today. Wish I still had some of those.

[@davidmauldin6295]

I didn't know Perkins was the first Cowboy named to the Pro Bowl. Neither did I know he started out as a halfback...I came on with the Cowboys late ...1965, when I was 5. He was a favorite for sure and tough as nails. Your videos remind us how great our Cowboy heroes really were!

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@davidmauldin6295 Always appreciate you bro!

[@goofygus6855]

Perkins, Reeves and Garrison. What great players.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@goofygus6855 All on one team. Legendary!

[@goofygus6855]

@ love your work. Your description of the Flex defense in previous episodes was terrific. I’m a life time Patriots fan and remember that the initial game at Texas Stadium in 1971 was with a not so good Pats team. Oh well. Great job!

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@goofygus6855 Completely understood! Lol Appreciate the compliments sir!

[@michaelleroy9281]

Put them all in the Hall of Fame

[@johnhardman825]

@@goofygus6855 The Pats were not a very good team at that time. I went to that game and they had a 4th and 64 yards to go and my father yelled out go for it. LOL

[@TJettman]

I'm glad you do these videos of the older Cowboys. I'm 50 but my earliest Cowboy memory is the Super Bowl win over the Broncos and even then I was only 3. It still took a few more years before I really knew what I was watching. Hearing about those guys before my time is very enjoyable. I would really like to see something about that expansion team and Eddie LeBaron.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@TJettman I'm working on that as we speak. If God wills I'm uploading a breakdown of how Landry used Cliff Harris to help shut down Don Shula's legendary passing offense in the Superbowl. Hopefully, I can get that out in the upcoming weeks. That's going to be very interesting. After that, I might do a video on the start of the franchise or a Dexter Coakley documentary. I'm not sure.

[@TJettman]

@@thelogicalcowboy Oh man, I would love to see both of those. Tony Tolbert too.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@TJettman Tolbert was my guy! I definitely have to do one on him.

[@TJettman]

@@thelogicalcowboy YEEEESSSS! He was the forgotten defensive beast!

[@davidroman1654]

Love the videos. One of my first memories of the Cowboys is Labaron handing the ball to Perkins along with other things from 1960.

[@TypicalAisian1968]

Great post LC. There was a time when black athletes were trickling into the NFL because coaches realized they were superior athletes and they could win with them. That was cool seeing Marv Levy as Don Perkins coach. LOL Marv Levy took his team to 4 straight SB's, thats very respectable.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@TypicalAisian1968 Levy is a legendary. It did surprise me tho. The 60s were an interesting decade.

[@philwilson7816]

2nd PLACE , 4 SUPERBOWL YEARS IN A ROW !! Alot of teams don't make 1st , 2 years in a row ! BACK TO BACK ! HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS ?!!

[@JCox964]

Great video. Being 64 years old, I was a Cowboys fan from my early childhood, 1965-1973 Perkins , DT & CH were great running backs IMO. Thank you

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@JCox964 Appreciate you bro! Thanks for watching!

[@mojoschmee9320]

My father, the man I simultaneously give credit and blame for my devout fanhood to this franchise, is a huge fan of Don Perkins. He's always said that the "Original Cowboy Fans", those who were around in 1960 and then stuck around... all they had to cheer for and watch was Bob Lilly on defense, and the Dons on offense. And he always said Perkins made it worth it. AND, LC. Seriously, do you have film on every Cowboy game ever played??? I get so envious imagining all the video you have access to you... Sometimes I daydream that you invite me to this secret Cowboys warehouse to go through the collection, drinking coffee while wearing fedoras.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

😂 😂 first of all respect to pops! Secondly, you ain't have to do me like that! 😂 😂. Bro I'm crying laughing right now! But seriously I have a lot of footage in my own personal collection and sometimes I get them from other Cowboys historians from utube. You should check out this utuber called the "TheCowboysHistorian" he has a tone of old Cowboys content from the early years. Rog and Ryan Bush do too. All of these guys deserve their flowers bro. Their content has helped me through some hard times trying to find certain highlights that I myself don't have. Appreciate you brother!

[@edwardmalone5257]

I have read about Don Perkins, but I had not watched much footage of him. Thanks for the video. You do what you do with excellence.

[@robzilla60]

Another great player from way back in the day. I don't remember much about about Don Perkins except hearing him being referred to during later games I do remember. I was born in 1960 like the Cowboys. Keep the content coming LC!!!

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@robzilla60 Sure will. Appreciate you bro!

[@robertdavis4386]

Another great tribute to a great player! Excellent work.

[@jeffworrill4918]

Fire work as always. I look forward to these videos.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@jeffworrill4918 Appreciate you brother!

[@raynardabraham7831]

Thank You Professor Cowboy for showing us the true greatness of maybe one of the most overlooked ball carriers in history. Maybe you should have your own sports TV program highlighting these forgotten legends & their true hreatness😊.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@raynardabraham7831 😂 😂 appreciate you bro!

[@stanleymoton9466]

Cowboys legends are never ending I will challenge any NFL franchise vs the stars impact and innovation of the Dallas Cowboys despite us not winning in almost 30 years 😢 but still DC4L

[@martyhanson1179]

Waiting till next year for 29 years

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@stanleymoton9466 All facts!

[@aktxag]

Perkins was a GREAT one. Nicely done! I do need to point out that though Perkins was indeed the Cowboys first Pro Bowler, Bob Lilly made first team All Pro in 62 along with Perkins. Lilly and Perkins share the honor of being the first All Pros in Cowboy history.

[@thesarge4457]

Can't say enough about Don Perkins, his stats speak for itself as you've laid out, and he and the other players never made the monies like they do today, Thanks LC, looking forward to your next Cowboys pick. THE SARGE

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@thesarge4457 Appreciate you brother!

[@Bobcat_Ready]

Love your stuff bro. You are very good at this

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@Bobcat_Ready Thanks bro!

[@SgtSlaughtah]

It's crazy that the Offense had two extra blockers on the goal line back then called the goalposts!

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@SgtSlaughtah Wow!

[@LanceIngram-cg3ej]

I have always been a Bears fan but have always loved the Cowboys. I know I'm not the only one. There is something about the Cowboys that everyone loves.

[@bobvick5175]

My first favorite running back was Perkins!! Great memories!

[@mr1234567899111]

Perkins was the fullback when I became a Cowboys fan in 1966 - great to see his endorsement here. I was disappointed when he retired so early - but understood. He was a great broadcaster post-football😊

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@mr1234567899111 Just a completely legendary guy all around.

[@AlPenton-v5t]

Don Perkins was a cornerstone of The Cowboy legacy of greatness

[@mjsmith8641]

He should be in HOF

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@mjsmith8641 I think so too.

[@aaropajari7058]

I never thought younger Cowboy fans quite understood the cultural role he pkayed in building up the Cowboys identity in those early years, as well as his greatness as a back. Cowboy fans need to know Perkins to deserve the star we all have on our hearts. He probably has the most British name in Cowboys history, so I'll claim him for that, too! 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@aaropajari7058 All facts!

[@christianstough6337]

Great video. Perkins was such an underrated beast. The 1960’s offense would have been lost without him. Unrelated to this video. The 1962 Cowboy offense was a beast. After that, I think Marsh got hurt and other teams got wise, which put Dallas O in a slumber for a while. I re-learned this when trying to see how many +40 points scored games Dallas teams had through 1977. One of the frustrating things about Dallas in those days was that they always felt like they could just explode offensively and defensively against any team; yet would rarely do so and almost never at the same time. Its another reason I have so much respect for the 1970-71 teams, because those teams did that more than any others. In 1970, they had 5 games holding the opponent to no TD’s. In 1971, the scored 40+ five times. Super Bowl VI was so satisfying because they put both together at the same time against a really great team. Their offense didn’t totally explode, but it had Miami on the back foot for the last three quarters. Super Bowl XII was not as satisfying because they put the ball on the ground so much.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@christianstough6337 Brother, your ability to research the data and numbers makes me happy as an analytical guy myself. We are a rare breed, my friend. Lol. You have to create a channel or write a book!

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@christianstough6337 By the way, I'm doing a breakdown of that 71 defense vs. Miami God willing on this Friday. Landry was masterful!

[@christianstough6337]

@@thelogicalcowboy I've been slacking on my draft analysis (work and family and slacking take priority). I've got the numbers for all picks from 1967-1988, but haven't totaled them for every pick and then used them to compare draft performance and trades. The usual way to analyze a trade is who was picked by the draft pick given up; this to me seems a poor way to analyze a pick/trade. Whether someone valuable is picked with that choice is down to the drafting staff and a ton of luck. A fairer way would be to just use how valuable that pick number had been in the past, by average and by probability. I think, I'm just guessing, the Packers from 1967-1972 will not look good. Dallas will also not look that good for their picks (their free agent rookies save them rookie wise) compared to the draft picks they had. On the other hand, Dallas will look great for their ability to stock pile good draft picks. One sleeper is the Eagles, who have no picks from 70-76, but nail winners with the picks they have.

[@christianstough6337]

@@thelogicalcowboy A breakdown of the Super Bowl VI is my dream. I will love that video so much.

[@redmustangredmustang]

It's a shame he never got the glory to that later Cowboy players got. He retired before making it to a Super Bowl. He did live a long life sadly dying in 2022 at 84.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@redmustangredmustang A legendary guy who was sadly forgotten about like so many other great players.

[@sak7785]

Perkins absolutely belongs in the HOF. 5th on the all time rushing list at the time of his retirement.

[@CoreySosner]

Great under appreciated player

[@donwoodard2204]

Perkins became sports anchor for local Albuquerque TV station in the 1970's.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@donwoodard2204 I know those were great breakdowns for the viewers. Perkins was a great orator.

[@paulwidener5691]

I always thought Perkins was great. But was he better than the holdout/ quitter duane thomas. Debatable. Pure talent I always felt thomas was better. I love the old videos and the trip down cowboys memory lane. Good stuff man

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@paulwidener5691 Appreciate you bro! Thomas had better talent. But Perkins clearly had the better career by far!

[@paulwidener5691]

@ we think to much alike!

[@paulwidener5691]

Thomas wasn’t a quitter what dallas media called him

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@paulwidener5691 💪 💪

[@paulwidener5691]

@@thelogicalcowboy He wanted to be a feature back. And should have been

[@robertem31]

AMAZING , Thanks for the post , BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY , the History Lesson ...... It matters.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@robertem31 No problem. Appreciate you bro!

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Don Perkins and Dan Reeves were one of the better Dallas backfield duos.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@georgesouthwick7000 They sure were.

[@tsingletonjr82]

He was the first Cowboys running back to retire as a top 5 rusher in NFL history.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@tsingletonjr82 Wow! That's a fact!

[@tsingletonjr82]

@thelogicalcowboy At that time, the top 5 rushers were: Jim Brown (12,312) Joe Perry (9,723) Jim Taylor (8,597) John Henry Johnson (6,803) Don Perkins (6,217) Oh, and Perk finished as a top 10 rusher every year he was in the NFL.

[@krl97a]

A deserving Ring of Honor member, Don Perkins is clearly the best 1960s RB not yet in the HoF. Maybe he'll get in some day.

[@DonaldHarris-n9n]

Good for you,, awesome..

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@DonaldHarris-n9n Thanks for watching!

[@texasstadium]

Perkins was able to see the holes and shift gears as well as any Cowboys running back in history. But what I remember most is that he conducted himself as the consummate professional at all times despite playing football in a difficult era and difficult town (racially speaking). Fans might wonder what he would have accomplished in the seventies with the more polished Dallas teams.

[@jcdova29]

Bro awesome video! Don Perkins no doubt was the Cowboys first great back. Tom Landry relied on Perkins to run his offense. Don could catch and block in addition to being a power runner.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@jcdova29 He did it all. No weaknesses. A bit slower than your typical back. But that was it. His elite quickness made up for it. Appreciate you bro

[@mrbuckaroobonzai]

"Perk"!!! He is and always will be my favorite back for the Cowboys. That's when real men played the game of football. I have just come back in 1976 from over seas Army and went to Cowboys game and saw his induction to the Ring of Honor along with Don Meredith. Quick intel on Perk, he was not drafted by the Cowboys the Baltimore Colts in the 9th rd in 1960. But Murchison was still waiting for franchise expansion approval that year and anticipated being awarded the franchise. He signed Perk to a personal services contract ahead of time. Ended up giving the Colts a 6th rd in 1962. Rest is history, RIP Perk and thanks for the memories, it was a good Cowboy ride

[@curtisburgdrof8618]

rip don perkins the original Cowboys are the first cowboys goat

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@curtisburgdrof8618 Facts!

[@michaelleroy9281]

Don Perkins was not an original Cowboy, he didn't come until 1961, the 2nd season

[@komradkolonel]

I remember when he was inducted into the Ring of Honor. He was sort of replaced by Duane Thomas or at least his spot was filled by him and it's still a debate among fans who was better. Don Perkins had better speed but Thomas maybe had better footwork. Duane Thomas' biggest problem was Duane Thomas. If his attitude had been different he might be in the Hall of Fame today. Don Perkins had a much better attitude and mindset.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@komradkolonel Good post!

[@everettalexander5990]

Perkins last year was 1968, after the first lost to the Cleveland Browns , Calvin Hill was drafted in 1969, but the Cowboys had yet another lost to the Cleveland Browns again in the playoffs, in 1968 it was 31-20 which Perkins retired after that game, in 1969 it was 38-14 in an playoff game at the Cotton Bowl in which the Browns won again. Duane Thomas was drafted in 1970 out of West Texas State, he was competing against Calvin Hill for starting reps.

[@stanleymoton9466]

❤

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@stanleymoton9466 Appreciate you bro!

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

Don Perkins was a beast there's no doubt about it BTW I don't care what color anyone is you know you're my brother no matter what but I have a cover of Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson I don't know if you even like em if u don't then don't look at it lol but yeah Perkins was probably the first best running back s the Cowboys had

[@thelogicalcowboy]

You already know we, bros! You've been a friend of the channel for a long time! But yeah, of course, I'll check it out. MJ is the goat! Especially Smooth Criminal MJ. 😎

[@coganblaster]

Sorry, but the first Pro Bowl/ All Pro player for the Cowboys was DL Bob Lilly - "Mr. Cowboy".

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@coganblaster Not true. Bob Lilly had his first Pro Bowl in 1962. Don Perkins had his first Pro Bowl in 1961. Appreciate you, bro.

[@donwoodard2204]

I wish people would stop saying goat as if greatest. There is no such thing as the greatest anything, it's all relative to the times. Amos Marsh was the first very good running back for the Cowboys. Charlie Connerly was their first QB , they got him from the NY Giants in the supplemental draft, soon little Eddie Labarron took over at QB. MOST Cowboy fans have no clue about the 1960 -65 teams.Let me tell you as an old guy they didn't win alot but were very competitive and fun to watch , very respectful team during that time fans could see they were becoming a good team .

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@donwoodard2204 Amos Marsh may have been the first "GOOD" back. But not the first "GREAT" back. Those are two different terms. The first "Great" back for the Cowboys was Don Perkins. As for the Goat argument. I think it's fallacious to say that there's no such thing as the Goat and then say that it's relative. If it's relative then the Goat argument can fit any player who fits the criteria of being a Goat. I agree that you can make an argument for all of the greats and at the end of the day there's preference. But to say that there is no argument, or that we can't make a good hypothesis for one player more than the rest is not true. Let's say I was a sports writer who lived in 1969 and someone asked me who was the greatest running back the cowboys ever had. I wouldn't even need to do a lot of research on the young franchise. Because it would be evident. It would be Don Perkins.

[@davidroman1654]

Both Connerly and Labarron were on the team in 1960 and Labarron was the starter most of the season. In 1960 Cowboys were 0-11-1, tying the defending Champs NYG. In 1965 the had their first Non Loosing season and played in the "Runner-up playoff game" I think against the LA Rams. Yes they were always competitive in the early years. Funny Stat. Before the first win at home this season the 1960 team, based on points scored and allowed, were better at home than the current 2024 version of the Cowboys.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Charlie Connerly never played a down for the Cowboys, look at the 1960 roster not there

[@donwoodard2204]

​@@michaelleroy9281idiot !! He was taken in the supplemental draft from the NY Giants , he did play in 1960 but didn't last he was an old man then and was cut before the season ended .

[@stevelarsen3671]

Very intelligent insight.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@stevelarsen3671 Thanks!

[@TJettman]

I'm glad you do these videos of the older Cowboys. I'm 50 but my earliest Cowboy memory is the Super Bowl win over the Broncos and even then I was only 3. It still took a few more years before I really knew what I was watching. Hearing about those guys before my time is very enjoyable. I would really like to see something about that expansion team and Eddie LeBaron.

[@thelogicalcowboy]

@@TJettman Appreciate the support!