The history of the Dallas Cowboys begins in 1960 when they entered the NFL as an expansion team. Clint Murchison, Jr. and Bedford Wynne were given the go-ahead to bring a team to Texas, a team that came to be called 'America's Team.'
The early years in the history of the Dallas Cowboys
Tom Landry was given a "personal services contract" on December 27, 1959, then named head coach of the Dallas Cowboys once the expansion franchise was awarded in 1960. Players were selected and the Dallas Cowboys were ready to play their first season in the NFL, which ended with a record of 0-11-1.
The Cowboys got their first win in the 1961 season opener. In 1962 they set an NFL record when two players had 100-yard touchdowns, the first time that had happened in the same game.
The early years in the history of the Dallas Cowboys came to an end in 1969 when Don Meredith and Don Perkins retired. This is also the year Roger Staubach joined the team, setting the stage for future success.
Super Bowl trips, a new stadium, and a "Hail Mary" are added to the history of the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys played in the Super Bowl five times during the 1970s, winning the championship twice: in 1972 and 1978.
A new chapter in Dallas Cowboys history began when the Cowboys moved to Texas Stadium in 1971. It was here that the "Hail Mary" pass from Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson helped Dallas beat Minnesota in the 1975-76 playoffs.
The history of the Dallas Cowboys adds two new owners
In 1984 the Dallas Cowboys were sold to a partnership led by H.R. "Bum" Bright. The next year, 1985, Roger Staubach was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett passed 10,000 rushing yards, making him only the sixth NFL player to reach that mark.
The 1980s also brought the Dallas Cowboys their 100th win at Texas Stadium, an end to the team's 20 consecutive winning seasons, and a second new owner. Jerry Jones purchased the Cowboys in 1989 and named Jimmy Johnson head coach. The team drafted Troy Aikman with the first pick of the NFL draft.
For many fans, the firing of Tom Landry, the only coach in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, was hard to take. Landry so much represented the Cowboys, it was difficult to imagine anyone else on the sidelines. But Jimmy Johnson made his own mark in Dallas Cowboys history.
The history of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s gives fans lots to celebrate
1990 was a memorable year for the Dallas Cowboys: Tom Landry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Coach Johnson was named NFL Coach of the Year, and Emmitt Smith was drafted and named the AP NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Triplets, made up of Aikman, Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin, worked their magic on the football field, helping the team win three Super Bowls: in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Michael Irvin left football in 1999 when an injury during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles ended his career. It was hard to watch as he was carried off the field on a stretcher.
The history of the Dallas Cowboys is also NFL history
The face of the Dallas Cowboys changed when quarterback Troy Aikman retired in 2001, and Emmitt Smith was released in 2003. Before leaving the Cowboys, Smith became the NFL all-time leading rusher in 2002, when an 11-yard run against the Seahawks took him to 16,726 career rushing yards.
The Triplets were reunited in 2005, when they were added to the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium. It was a huge celebration, featuring not only the three inductees, but eight other Ring of Honor members, including Roger Staubach, Randy White, and Tony Dorsett.
For this fan, seeing this many former—and stellar—players together was one of the greatest moments in the history of the Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowls aside.
Present-day history of the Dallas Cowboys
The most recent phase in the history of the Dallas Cowboys began in 2006 when Tony Romo became the starting quarterback and Coach Wade Phillips was hired in2007. The new Cowboys Stadium, located in Arlington, Texas, opened in 2009, and Texas Stadium was imploded in 2010.
Every season, every player, and every coach adds something to the history of the Dallas Cowboys. The first 50 years of Dallas Cowboys history has been filled with highs and lows; the next 50 are likely to do the same.
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