The Dallas Cowboys is a professional American Football team (gridiron). The Cowboys play for the NFC East Division of the National Football League (NFL). They are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and have headquarters in Frisco, Texas. The team currently plays its home games in Arlington, Texas, at the AT&T Stadium, which opened at the start of the 2009 season.
Mike McCarthy, who had won a Super Bowl as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, became the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys in January 2020. He is the ninth man to have taken on the role, following on from Jason Garret, who had the role up until 2019.
An NFC Success Story
The Cowboys have been an integral part of the NFL since 1960, and their popularity has only grown over the decades. A consecutive-sell-out games-streak started in 2002 and has yet to be surpassed, with a total of 190 games (including regular and postseason, home and away games). It’s no surprise that they have such a dedicated fan base, given their impressive record of eight Super Bowl appearances. They share the second-most appearances in the Super Bowl with both the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only the New England Patriots have made more appearances. There have been some long stretches of play where the Dallas Cowboys have struggled with form.
But, historically, the Cowboys have generally been a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. Their loyal fans continue to show their unwavering support through thick and thin.
The Cowboys have also boasted eight NFC Championships wins – which is the most of any NFC team. Having made eight Super Bowl appearances, they have won five of those championship games – which makes them equal with their fierce NFC rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams fall just behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots who have six Super Bowl wins each. They are also the only team in the NFL to boast a record 20 straight winning seasons, between 1966 and 1985, where they missed the playoffs just twice – in 1974 and 1984.
This is a franchise that has enjoyed plenty of financial success too. They became the first global sports team to be worth $4 billion in 2015, making them the most valuable sports team across the globe. Moreover, they broke another US sports team record in 2014 by generating $620 million in revenue. Then, in 2018, they became the first NFL franchise team to have a value of $5 billion – making them the most highly valued NFL team for the twelfth consecutive year. A study in early 2023 reported that the Dallas Cowboys were the “richest team in America, worth an estimated $8 billion” (Jesse Mendez reporting at ValleyCentral.com).
A Southern Team
Before the Dallas Cowboys were formed, there hadn’t been an NFL team located south of Washington since the folding of the Dallas Texans in 1952 – after just one season. There were attempts to get an NFL team in Dallas, but they failed. This contributed to the formation of the American Football League (AFL), which encouraged the NFL to expand to more than twelve teams. Rich oil tycoon, Clint Murchison Jr continued to push for a Dallas team, but at that time the owner of the Washington Redskins, George Preston Marshall, had the monopoly of the South.
In 1958, Clint Murchison, a wealthy businessman, made an attempt to purchase the Washington Redskins from George Preston Marshall, the owner of the team. Murchison had plans to move the team to Dallas, Texas, where he hoped to establish a new NFL franchise. The deal was almost finalized, but unfortunately, some last-minute obstacles caused the deal to fall through. This caused a rift between the two businessmen, and Marshall vehemently opposed any franchise for Murchison in Dallas.
As a result, Murchison’s dream of owning an NFL team was put on hold. However, this setback did not deter Murchison, and he continued to work towards his goal of bringing a professional football team to Dallas. In 1960, his perseverance paid off when he was awarded an expansion franchise in the NFL, which he named the Dallas Cowboys. The team quickly became one of the most successful franchises in the league, winning two Super Bowls in the 1970s en route to establishing the loyal fan base that we have already discussed.
After Marshall fell out with the composer and rights owner of the Redskins fight song, Hail to the Redskins, Barnee Breeskin, Breeskin sold the rights to Murchison in revenge, just before the expansion vote in 1959. Murchison used this as leverage over Marshall – meaning Marshall was unable to play that song during any Redskins game. He said he would only sell him the rights to that song for his vote – and thus the franchise was born… as was the deep-seated and ongoing rivalry between the Cowboys and Redskins.
Murchison ploughed forward. He hired Los Angeles Rams General Manager, Tex Schramm as the team president and GM. The San Francisco 49ers scout, Gil Brandt, joined as Head of Player Personnel and Tom Landry joined as Head Coach, leaving his role as the New York Giants Defensive Coordinator. Thus, the team was born.
The team started with struggles, as is true of most expansion teams. Their inaugural season was a disaster, but they eventually grew. It was in 1965 that they first managed a winning percentage of 0.500 and in the following two years they won the Eastern Conference titles. However, both years they lost out in the NFL Championship game to the Green Bay Packers. They went on to win two more consecutive division titles in 1968 and 1969 – after the NFL started using the divisional format, but were defeated by the Cleveland Browns.
Dallas Cowboys Facts
Here are some facts about the Dallas Cowboys:
Nicknames:
- America’s Team
- Doomsday Defense
- The ‘Boys
- Big D
Championships Wins:
League championships
The team won the Super Bowl championships five times:
- 1971 (VI)
- 1977 (XII)
- 1992 (XXVII)
- 1993 (XXVIII)
- 1995 (XXX)
NFL/NFC Conference Championships
The team has won the NFL Eastern Conference twice:
- 1966
- 1967
They have won the NFC Championship eight times:
- 1970,
- 1971,
- 1975,
- 1977,
- 1978,
- 1992,
- 1993,
- 1995
Division Championships Wins
The Dallas Cowboys have won: 3 NFL Capitol wins:
- 1967 – 1969
and 21 NFC East Wins
- 1970- 1971
- 1973
- 1976 – 1979,
- 1981
- 1985
- 1992 -1996
- 1998
- 2007
- 2009
- 2014
- 2016
- 2018
- 2021
Playoff Appearances
The Dallas Cowboys have made a total of 35 Playoff Appearances:
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022.
Home Fields
The Dallas Cowboys have played at three home fields since their inaugural season:
- The Cotton Bowl between 1960–1971
- The Texas Stadium between 1971–2008
- The AT&T Stadium: 2009–present
Dallas Cowboys Football Hall of Famers
Players
- No. Name Position Seasons Inducted
- 26 Herb Adderley CB 1970–1972 1981
- 8 Troy Aikman QB 1989–2000 2006
- 73 Larry Allen G 1994–2005 2013
- 19 Lance Alworth WR 1971–1972 1978
- 17 Harold Carmichael WR 1984 2020
- 89 Mike Ditka TE 1969–1972 1988
- 33 Tony Dorsett RB 1977–1987 1994
- 79 Forrest Gregg OT 1971 1977
- 94 Charles Haley DE 1992–1996 2015
- 43 Cliff Harris S 1970–1979 2020
- 22 Bob Hayes WR 1965–1974 2009
- 88 Michael Irvin WR 1988–1999 2007
- 74 Bob Lilly DT 1961–1974 1980
- 25 Tommy McDonald WR 1964 1998
- 81 Terrell Owens WR 2006–2008 2018
- 88 Drew Pearson WR 1973–1983 2021
- 20 Mel Renfro CB 1964–1977 1996
- 21 Deion Sanders CB, KR 1995–1999 2011
- 22 Emmitt Smith RB 1990–2002 2010
- 81 Jackie Smith TE 1978 1994
- 12 Roger Staubach QB 1969–1979 1985
- 54 Randy White DT, LB 1975–1988 1994
- 70 Rayfield Wright OT 1967–1979 2006
Coaches and Contributors
- Name Position Seasons Inducted
- Gil Brandt Executive 1960–1988 2019
- Jimmy Johnson Coach 1989–1993 2020
- Jerry Jones Owner/Executive 1989–present 2017
- Tom Landry Coach 1960–1988 1990
- Bill Parcells Coach 2003–2006 2013
- Tex Schramm President/GM 1960–1989 1991
Super Bowl MVPs
- Super Bowl Player Position
- V Chuck Howley LB
- VI Roger Staubach QB
- XII Randy White DT
- XII Harvey Martin DE
- XXVII Troy Aikman QB
- XXVIII Emmitt Smith RB
- XXX Larry Brown CB
Dallas Cowboys FAQs
Where Can I Watch the Dallas Cowboys Play?
Whether it’s the Sunday game, the Thanksgiving Day game, Cotton Bowl Classic or the regular-season finale, there will be coverage on one of TV’s major channels. If you’re out and don’t want to miss Sunday’s game, then the Dallas Cowboys’ flagship radio station is KRLD-FM.
Who is Better: the Dallas Cowboys or Kansas City Chiefs?
The Dallas Cowboys have played the AFC North team, the Kansas City Chiefs a total of 12 times between 1970 and 2021. Out of these 12 games, the Dallas Cowboys have won 7 times compared to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 5 game win. The Cowboys have scored a total of 295 points compared to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 250 points. So, the Dallas Cowboys, as it stands, is the better team on head-to-heads.
What Position Does Michael Gallup Play for the Dallas Cowboys?
Michael Gallup currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys as the Wide Receiver.
How Many Times Have the Cowboys Played the Arizona Cardinals?
The Dallas Cowboys have played the Arizona Cardinals 91 times up until January 2022. To date, the Dallas Cowboys have won 56 games, the Cowboys lost 34 times and there has been one draw. However, there has been a recent two-game losing streak for the Cowboys after the team’s most recent loss to Arizona back in January of 2022.
Who Are the Dallas Cowboys Main Rivals?
The Cowboys have a few rivals. There is an ongoing rivalry between the Washington Commanders and the Cowboys. There is also a rivalry between the Green Bay Packers, that they play around once every three years. The Packers have been most successful out of this rivalry and even managed a home win at Lambeau Field of 45-7 in 2010. They also knocked out the Cowboys in the 2014 Divisional Round – and despite leading 14-7 in the first half, the second half saw them drop the game 26-21… a bitter disappointment for the team against their fierce rivals. However, the Cowboys did manage an 8 game winning streak between 1991-1996.
What are the Dallas Cowboys’ chances heading into the 2022/23 NFL season?
The Cowboys are big spenders on players. As such, they can never be discounted as contenders. Most would consider Dallas to be just outside of the core contenders to win the league outright. However, most would consider them likely to qualify for the playoffs.
