Why Tony Dorsett’s No. 33 isn’t retired by Dallas Cowboys and is instead the jersey number for new RB

Billy Heyen

Why Tony Dorsett’s No. 33 isn’t retired by Dallas Cowboys and is instead the jersey number for new RB image

There's something sweet about a Dallas Cowboys running back wearing No. 33.

Oh yeah, that's right - it's because that's the number Tony Dorsett made look so brilliant in his Cowboys tenure.

But the digits aren't retired, and so there's a new Cowboys RB rocking it for the 2025 NFL season.

Why isn't Tony Dorsett's jersey number 33 retired?

Tony Dorsett's jersey number 33 isn't retired because no Cowboys have their numbers retired.

Dorsett is in the team's Ring of Honor, but that's the highest honor the team gives. The Cowboys don't officially retire numbers.

Dallas has given Dorsett's No. 33 to eight players since the legend wore it.

Dorsett spent 11 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Cowboys and ran for 72 touchdowns and 12,036 yards.

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Who wears No. 33 for Cowboys in 2025?

The Cowboys' new No. 33 is Javonte Williams.

Williams came to Dallas from Denver as a free agent in the offseason.

Fittingly, Williams scored the first two touchdowns of the Cowboys' season.

If someone is going to get Dorsett's 33, it should be a talented RB.

But there are certainly some old-school Cowboys fans who won't want to see No. 33 on any other players.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle