Rank'Em
Rank ’Em: Cowboys born in Pittsburgh area
Here are the top-10 Cowboys who were born in the Pittsburgh area.
11. C.J. Goodwin • Cornerback (2018-Current) • Wheeling, WV
West Virginia, you say? Although born and raised in a different state, Goodwin's hometown of Wheeling is only about an hour away from Pittsburgh, which is actually closer than where some of the upcoming Pennsylvania natives on this list were born. With the help of former Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount, Goodwin caught the attention of NFL teams following his collegiate career and eventually came to Dallas in 2018. He's been a special teams ace for the Cowboys ever since.
10. Mike McCarthy • Head Coach (2020-Current) • Pittsburgh, PA
The Cowboys current head coach, Mike McCarthy, grew up in the blue-collar neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, where his father owned Joe McCarthy's Bar and Grill. After a college playing career that saw him reach the NAIA Division II finals with Baker University as a tight end, he entered the coaching ranks. McCarthy eventually earned his first NFL head coaching job with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl in 2010, before later taking the reins for the Cowboys in 2020.
9. Malik Hooker • Safety (2021-Current) • New Castle, PA
Having grown up in New Castle, Malik Hooker was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Male Athlete of the Year as a high school senior year in 2014. After starring at Ohio State, he was drafted by the Colts and spent four seasons in Indianapolis before Dallas signed him as a free agent in 2021. Hooker now heads to his old stomping grounds with five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 172 tackles in his time so far with the Cowboys, which includes starting 19 of his last 20 games played.
8. Tony Liscio • Left Tackle (1963-71) • Pittsburgh, PA
An all-state defensive end at Pittsburgh's Westinghouse High School, Tony Liscio left the state to play his college football at the University of Tulsa. Although he was drafted by Green Bay in 1963, he was released by the Packers at the end of training camp. Then claimed off waivers by Dallas, the Cowboys immediately switched him to left tackle, where he became a mainstay for the next eight seasons, starting 83 of his 89 career games.
7. Barry Church • Safety (2010-16) • Pittsburgh, PA
Barry Church totaled 80 tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions in his senior year at Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh. He then was a four-year starter at the University of Toledo before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys in 2010. Over his next seven seasons in Dallas, Church would rack up 488 tackles, which included leading the team in takedowns in consecutive years, 2013-14, with 135 and 97, respectively.
6. Mike Ditka • Tight End (1969-72) • Assistant Coach (1973-81) • Carnegie, PA
Born and raised in the Pittsburgh suburbs, Mike Ditka is more commonly associated with another team, the Chicago Bears. He spent 11 years in the Windy City as a player and then later was the team's head coach. But Ditka played his final four seasons with the Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl in 1971, and then joined Tom Landry's staff. He served as an assistant coach for nine years in Dallas before being named the head man in Chicago.
5. Sean Lee • Linebacker (2010-20) • Pittsburgh, PA
A star at Upper St. Clair High School outside of Pittsburgh, Sean Lee went on to play his collegiate football at Penn State. A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2010, he would battle injuries throughout much of his career, but still earned Pro Bowl honors twice and was named first team All-Pro in 2016. And despite playing all 16 games in a season only once, Lee still ranks ninth in Cowboys history with 995 career tackles.
4. Mark Stepnoski • Center (1989-94; 1999-2001) • Erie, PA
Mark Stepnoski was an All-American offensive tackle for Cathedral Prep School in Erie, which is about two hours north of Pittsburgh. He played his college ball at Pitt, though, where he was switched to guard. Once drafted by the Cowboys in 1989, the decision was made to then move Stepnoski to center, and there he anchored a line that powered the team to Super Bowl wins in both 1992 and 1993. He also earned three Pro Bowl invites and two second-team All-Pro honors while in Dallas.
3. Micah Parsons • Edge Rusher (2021-Current) • Harrisburg, PA
Will stretch the boundaries here a little as Micah Parsons is a proud native of Harrisburg, which is in the middle of the state, but an hour or so closer to Philadelphia. He also played at Penn State before being selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2021 draft. Although currently sidelined due to injury, in just three seasons in Dallas he's earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, three Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections.
2. Tony Dorsett • Running Back (1977-87) • Aliquippa, PA
Tony Dorsett is a legend in the Keystone State, having starred at Hopewell High School in the suburb of Aliquippa before going on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national title with the University of Pittsburgh in 1976. Drafted by the Cowboys with the second overall pick in 1977, Dorsett then immediately led the team to the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy in his rookie season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
1. Randy White • Defensive Tackle (1975-88) • Pittsburgh, PA
Though indeed born in Pittsburgh, Randy White actually grew up in Delaware. He eventually made the trek to Texas after being selected by the Cowboys with the second overall pick in the 1975 draft. From 1977 to 1985, he then earned nine straight Pro Bowl invites as well as seven first-team All-Pro nods. Regarded as one of the greatest defensive tackles to ever play the game, he was also enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
