As a player, Charlie Waters was a mainstay for the Dallas Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" during the 1970-82 period. Those years were recognized by the NFL as the "glory years" of the Dallas franchise and the inception of the claim of AMERICA'S TEAM. He never experienced a losing season, played in 5 Super Bowls, won 2 World Championships and was nominated for the 2001 class for the Pro Football HALL OF FAME. Respected for his courage and knowledge by opponents and teammates alike, Charlie was selected to the Pro Bowl 3 times and was honored 3 times with ALL-PRO selections.

Charlie currently holds the existing NFL record for most interceptions in playoff games (9), including 3 in one game (also a record), and is second in Dallas history in total career thefts, with 50. Known as a consummate team player, he holds the rare NFL distinction of blocking 4 punts in 2 successive games. A favorite of the fans, they twice voted him as their Favorite Cowboy and most recently to The Dallas Morning News' All-Time Cowboys Team. Other honors include NFL All-Rookie Team, Sports Illustrated Unsung Hero Award, Summerall / Madden All-Cowboys Team, Dallas Cowboys Silver Anniversary Team, South Carolina and Clemson University Hall of Fame, the NFL Alumni Association's Legend Award and the elite group of the 300 All-Time Greatest Players as recognized by Total Football, The Encyclopedia of the NFL. After retirement, Charlie worked as a NFL analyst for CBS Sports before re-entering the NFL as a coach. In his seven seasons on the sideline with the Denver Broncos, Charlie advanced himself to Defensive Coordinator and his team to the playoffs four times, gaining the Super Bowl following the 1989 season.

Denver's defense paced the NFL in several defensive categories while under his tutelage. Charlie also made the transition to the college game with ease, as his Oregon Duck defense led the PAC 10 to earn a birth in the 1995 Cotton Bowl. In 1996, Charlie and his family returned to Dallas so that he could return to the private business sector and is involved with many community and charitable activities including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the I'm Third Foundation of Kanakuk Kamps, the Boles Home for Children, The American Diabetes Association and the Cody Waters Memorial Fund. He presently is employed by Energy Transfer Group, in the New World of electricity marketing, and works with his longtime partner Cliff Harris.