'Place of positivity': Cowboys greats have ‘No. 88’ text thread

This is truly a text thread for the ages. 

The "88 Thread" is an ongoing text message thread among former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers who wore the No. 88 jersey over the last 50-plus years. It includes Pro Football Hall of Famers Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin as well as Dez Bryant and current Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb. 

The text thread has received notice in the media before, but Dallas Cowboys superfan, comedian and gambling show host Sal "Cousin Sal" Iacono gave more insight into the thread on the latest episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" recently.

"We talked with Irvin, and he said it was really a place of positivity," Iacono said. "It's a lot of stuff like telling Lamb, 'Go out and be the best 88 you can be,' before games."

It's not the first time the four players have expressed their bond — they filmed a commercial for Chipotle together last year.

Pearson was an undrafted free agent who played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973-83, won a Super Bowl in 1978 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Irvin played for the Cowboys from 1988-99, won three Super Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. Bryant played for the Cowboys from 2010-17 and was a three-time Pro Bowler. 

Lamb was selected No. 17 overall by the Cowboys in 2020 and is already a two-time NFL All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. Lamb led the NFL with 135 receptions and had career highs of 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He's had over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons.