Don Perkins Donald Anthony Perkins ( born March 4 , 1938 in Waterloo , Iowa ) is a former American football halfback who spent eight seasons with the NFL ' s Dallas Cowboys . Early years . A native of Waterloo Iowa , Perkins earned 8 letters for Waterloo West High School , 4 each in football and track ( sprinter ) , he also played basketball . Perkins captained the track team by the time he was a junior . In 1955 his team went undefeated and he made the first all - state team as a halfback , while playing both offense and defense . He was president of the student body during his senior year . College career . Don Perkins played college football at the University of New Mexico , where he played halfback , and was also a kickoff returner . He was a three - time All - Skyline selection from 1957 – 1959 , and the Skyline Sophomore of the year in 1957 . In 1958 , he led the nation in kickoff returns . He was coached by NFL Hall of Fame r Marv Levy , who has stated in several occasions , that Perkins was one of the greatest players he ever coached . He even mentioned him in his NFL Hall of Fame induction speech . Perkins set 12 records as a three - year halfback starter . The school retired his number ( 43 ) when he completed his career - a first in the University of New Mexico history . He ranks 14th in the University of New Mexico career rushing list with 2 , 001 yards . He was inducted into the Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame and the University of New Mexico Hall of Honor . NFL career . The Dallas Cowboys franchise was admitted to the league too late to participate in the 1960 NFL Draft , so they signed Perkins to a personal - services contract for a $ 1 , 500 bonus and a $ 10 , 000 salary . This meant he would play for the Cowboys if and when they received an NFL franchise . Although he was drafted in the 9th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts , the league honored the contract , but made the Cowboys compensate the Colts with a 9th round draft pick in the 1962 NFL Draft . Perkins sat out the entire 1960 season with a broken foot ( fifth metatarsal ) he suffered in training camp , so he began playing with the Cowboys in 1961 , earning NFL rookie of the year honors . He was a runner who lacked long - distance speed , but made up for it with outstanding quickness and balance . Although he was considered a superb blocker , he finished in the NFL ’ s top 10 rushing in each of his eight seasons in the league . On September 24 1961 , he became the first running back in Cowboys ' history to run for 100 yards in a game , when he rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries against the expansion Minnesota Vikings . Perkins ' best year was in 1962 , when he rushed for 945 yards and seven touchdowns , becoming the first Cowboy to make the All - Pro team . He was coming off his two best all - around seasons when he decided to retire prior to the 1969 season . At the time only four other NFL running back s had rushed for more than his 6 , 217 yards . Even though he played the fullback position at 5 - 10 204 - pounds , his ten career 100 - yard games ranks fourth in club history , he led the Dallas Cowboys in rushing in six of his eight seasons , also led them in touchdown s in four of his eight seasons . He ranks third on the Cowboys ' all - time rushing yards and rushing touchdown s lists behind Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett . He was selected to six Pro Bowl s and to one All - Pro team , while gaining a reputation in the NFL for his courage and resolve on some of worst teams in Dallas Cowboys history . Probably the only thing he couldn ' t do was complete Tom Landry ’ s annual “ mile run ” in camp . Tom Landry once told NFL Films : " Perkins was in the toughest times , " , " The guy was a remarkable runner , a great pass blocker and one of the best players in our history . " . Walt Garrison was the player that replaced him in the starting lineup and that once said : " Don Perkins was the best fullback the Dallas Cowboys ever had " . Perkins was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium alongside his quarterback Don Meredith in 1976 . Only Bob Lilly got inducted ahead of them , in 1975 . In 2006 , he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame . Post - Football life . Perkins was a talk show analyst for CBS Sports , a football analyst for CBS Sports , ABC Sports , and other television and radio networks . He was the director of the Work Incentive Program for the State of New Mexico Department of Human Services from 1972 to 1985 . He served on both the Executive board of US West and the Board of Trustees for University Hospital from 1990 to 1993 . He is currently a member of the Northwest Mesa Branch of the NAACP . A father of four children and grandfather of ten , he has been active in local theater , public speaking , broadcasting at the local and national level , and is presently retired from the city of Albuquerque .