Drafted in the third round out of Clemson in 1970, Charlie Waters arrived in Big D as a versatile defensive back, but his early years were marked by a search for his permanent home in Tom Landry’s complex Flex defense. After playing every game across his first three seasons as a free safety and spending two years at cornerback, Waters struggled with consistency while adapting to Landry’s rigorous adjustments, leaving his long-term role uncertain.

Everything clicked in 1975 when Landry moved Waters permanently to strong safety, pairing him alongside free safety Cliff Harris to form "The Crash Brothers"—one of the most lethal, cerebral safety tandems in NFL history. Armed with elite football instincts and rare processing speed, Waters mastered the intricacies of Landry’s system. He was a bona fide ballhawk in coverage and a relentless, sure-tackling alley-runner who consistently disrupted opposing run designs before they could develop.

From 1976 through 1978, Waters put together a dominant three-year stretch that cemented his status as an elite defensive back, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections. He served as an integral anchor for the legendary "Doomsday II" defense that dominated Super Bowl XII, setting an NFL postseason record with three interceptions in a single playoff game against Chicago in 1977. His instincts under pressure made him a perpetual big-game performer when the national spotlight was brightest.

Disaster struck in the 1979 preseason when Waters suffered a torn ACL that wiped out his entire campaign. Showcasing remarkable grit and professionalism, he spent the year coaching from the sidelines before mounting an impressive comeback in 1980. Waters played two final high-level seasons, picking up 11 more interceptions over his last two years to cap off an exceptionally reliable career.

When he retired following the 1981 season, Waters hung up his cleats having never experienced a losing record in 12 NFL seasons. He appeared in five Super Bowls—winning Super Bowl VI and XII—and earned a reputation as one of the smartest safety commanders to ever wear the iconic silver helmet.

Waters compiled 41 career interceptions for 584 yards, two interception return touchdowns, 7.0 unofficial sacks, and 16 fumble recoveries as a Cowboy.