Dallas Cowboys Team History

The team history of the Dallas Cowboys is a rich one, they are one of the most decorated franchises in NFL history, with much of their success coming in the Jerry Jones ownership era.

The Texas State team was founded in 1960 and became the second pro-American football team to play in the state.

They battled alongside the now Kansas City Chiefs, previously known as the Dallas Texans. When Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt decided to relocate his franchise to Missouri, the Cowboys made sure to make the most of their new opportunity.

A new Dallas team

Their journey in the NFL made a slow start to say the least. The newly formed franchise had to wait until their sixth season before they achieved their first winning season, a sign of significant progress after failing to win a game in their inaugural season. Progress did not halt there, as under head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys secured successive Eastern Conference titles.

Quickly, the Dallas Cowboys became a powerhouse in the NFL, as they recorded 105 regular season wins from 1970 to 1979 – more than any other franchise. As a result, they appeared in five Super Bowls over this timespan and were victorious in two of them. In this period, the Cowboys earned the nickname, ‘Americas Team’, as they grew in talent and popularity.

Prior to the 1984 regular season, Cowboys founder, Clinton Murchison Jr. sold his beloved team to Harvey Roberts ‘Bum’ Bright and his associates. In the first season of the new era, despite boasting a wining 9-7 record, the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and only the second time in 18 years.

Two seasons later, the Cowboys endured three consecutive seasons with losing records. In 1988, a devastating record of 3-13 haunted the Cowboys – being one of their worst seasons in over 20 years. Wright became uninterested and disassociated himself from the team during this period of struggle. After an embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Wright shifted the blame in the direction of legendary franchise head coach Tom Landry.  

Wright’s finances fell into disarray when the savings and loan crisis hit America. With very little motivation, and more importantly, money, to keep the franchise afloat, Wright was forced to sell the Cowboys.

On February 25^th, 1989, Wright sold the franchise to fellow Texas oil magnate, Jerry Jones, for $150 million. The Jerry Jones Era had begun!

The Jerry Jones era

A radical decision to fire the Super Bowl winning head coach was ordered by Jones. In his first season, legendary players like Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman were embedded into the team.

Later that year a prosperous trade of Hershel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for numerous draft picks, was the springboard Jones needed to create the most successful Dallas Cowboys team in franchise history.

In Jones’ first season, the Cowboys did not make the playoffs as they were in a rebuild process. Progress was evident the following season as America’s Team managed to secure a playoff appearance, although, the journey was ended by the Detroit Lions.

A 13-3 record in 1992 meant the Cowboys had set a franchise record for most regular season wins. A clash against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship meant this was the first time they had reached this stage off the postseason in 10 years. Triumphantly, the Cowboys reached their first Super Bowl berth since 1978 after beating the 49ers in their own backyard. Accumulating a record nine turnovers in the Super Bowl led to the Cowboys trouncing the Buffalo Bills 52-17.

The Bills and Cowboys would face off again next season and the latter emerged victorious again from the Super Bowl. In the 1993 Pro Bowl, stars of the Cowboys were so impressive that they sent a then-NFL record of 11 players to the Pro Bowl.

Suiting up for a season to defend their Super Bowl and go for three in a row, it was with great surprise that Jimmy Johnson resigned as head coach, amid friction between him and Jones. Foreshadowing a failure to reach the Super Bowl that season.

The Cowboys secured the number one seed in the 1995 season and continued their stellar form into the playoffs. On the way to their third Super Bowl title in four years, the Cowboys defeated top contenders on the journey to a ring: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.  

Distant memories

Now in 2024, the Cowboys last NFC Championship appearance is a faded memory back in 1995, albeit the numerous NFC East divisional titles and playoff appearances. Jones will certainly ponder over the memories of the Dallas dynasty he created during the 90s, with a hope of replicating that same feat once again.