Perhaps no other football team in the NFL is as popular as the Dallas Cowboys. Nicknamed years ago "Americas Team", people either love them or hate them. But what can't be argued is their success. In the 45 years of their existence, the Dallas Cowboys have been the won more football games than any other team in all of football. The Cowboys are also well known for having the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
The Dallas Cowboys came into the NFL on January 28, 1960. They make their home in Irving, TX (Dallas suburb) and play their games in Texas Stadium. This stadium, built in 1971, is well known amongst football fans due to the unique hole in the roof above the football field.
Over the years the Cowboys have played in 8 or the 40 Super Bowls, winning 5 of them. Only San Francisco can make that claim. They have made the playoffs 27 times and won 18 division titles.
Jerry Jones is currently the team owner and president. The Dallas Cowboys are coached by Bill Parcells. When the team first came into the league they were coached by Tom Landry. He remained the coach of the Cowboys from 1960 up until 1988. He is arguably one of the greatest head coaches the NFL has ever had.
The Dallas Cowboys have had more than their share of football players go into the Hall of Fame. Some of these include:
• Tom Landry
• Tony Dorsett
• Bob Lily
• Mel Renfro
• Tex Schramm
• Roger Staubach
• Randy White
• Lance Alworth
• Mike Ditka
• Herb Adderly
• Forrest Gregg
• Tommy McDonald
• Jackie Smith
The Dallas Cowboys first season in the NFL was not the kind of start they were hoping for. They failed to win even one game. A few years later, in 1965, they started their run of 9 straight playoff appearances. The Cowboys reached the Super Bowl in 1971, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The next year, 1972, the Cowboys returned to the Super Bowl, this time winning it over the Miami Dolphins 24-3.
The football Cowboys later went to the Super Bowl in 76, 78 and 79. The game in 1979 against Pittsburgh is still considered to be the greatest football game in Super Bowl history.
The team went through a lot of rebuilding in the late 80s and Tom Landry retired after the 1988 season. It was at this time that Jerry Jones also bought the team and brought in Jimmy Johnson as head coach. This began a run of success that very few football teams have ever experienced.
With Emmit Smith in the backfield, Troy Aikman as quarterback and Michael Irvin as wide receiver, the Dallas Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1993 and 1994. After a major disagreement with owner Jerry Jones, Jimmy Johnson retired. New coach Barry Switzer came in and took the Cowboys to the playoffs 3 times, including winning the Super Bowl again in 1997.
This success has kept Dallas at the top of the football world for many years. With their steep winning tradition, this success can be expected to continue for many more years to come.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Football
Written By: Michael Russell
