Jim Jeffcoat was selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. The next year, he replaced Harvey Martin at the right defensive end position, registering 82 tackles to go along with 11.5 sacks, ranking second on the team and in the top 15 among sack league leaders. His most memorable game was against the Washington Redskins on November 10, 1985, when he tallied 11 tackles and sacked quarterback Joe Theismann a franchise record 5 times, tying Bob Lilly’s 19-year-old mark. In 1986, he led the team with a career-high 14 sacks (seventh among league leaders).

 

Jeffcoat maintained a high level of play through the Cowboys difficult years of the late '80s. His best season came in 1989, when he finished with a career-high 100 tackles, a career-high 42 quarterback pressures, 11.5 sacks (led team) and a career-high three fumble recoveries. During the 1992 season his role was reduced to a situational pass-rusher. Even with fewer opportunities, he managed to lead the team with 10.5 sacks (top 15 among league leaders) and six tackles for loss, during the team's drive towards winning Super Bowl XXVII. His repertoire of pass rushing moves and effort, allowed him to remain an effective player through the 1994 season, while playing mostly on passing situations. Show your appreciation for Jim Jeffcoat with collectibles, photographs and more here at the Drew Pearson's Cowboys Legends Pro Shop.