Cowboys History

The team was first known as the Dallas Steers, then the Dallas Rangers before settling on the nickname "Cowboys" for the 1960 season. Although the Cowboys finished winless in their first season with a 0-11-1 record, the Cowboys made their first NFL draft selection the following year, selecting Bob Lilly with the 13th pick in the draft.

During the 1960s, the Cowboys continued to build their team. Quarterback Don Meredith and running back Don Perkins joined the team and, by 1966, the Cowboys had their first winning season (10-3-1; which began a record-setting streak of 20 straight winning seasons, unmatched by any other NFL team) and their first playoff appearance. (From 1975 until 1983, the Cowboys would later match and extend that record, raising the bar to an NFL record nine straight playoff appearances.) The team also sent eight players to the Pro Bowl, including Cowboy legends Bob Hayes, Chuck Howley, "Dandy" Don Meredith, Don Perkins, and future Pro Football Hall of Famers Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro.

Similarly, the Cowboys were becoming a staple in the Dallas community. Although the Dallas Texans (in the AFL) had a far better record than the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the popularity of the Cowboys drove the Texans out of Dallas to Kansas City in 1963, where they became the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys then moved from the Cotton Bowl to Texas Stadium in week six of the 1971 season, won their last seven regular season games, and advanced through the playoffs to defeat the upstart Miami Dolphins, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI. The fresh influx of talent helped the Cowboys to advance to win Super Bowl XII, and make appearances in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII.

In 1984, H.R. "Bum" Bright purchased the Dallas Cowboys from Murchison, leading the team to progressively worse seasons (1985: 10-6; 1986: 7-9; 1987: 7-8; 1988: 3-13). Bright sold the Cowboys to Jerry Jones on February 25, 1989. Coach Johnson became the first coach to claim a National Championship in college football and a Super Bowl victory in professional football. The following season, they again defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII, 30-13. Jones hired former University of Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer to be the team's new head coach. The Cowboys would finish 12-4, but failed to win a third consecutive Super Bowl in a loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 38-28. The Cowboys eventually defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17 at Sun Devil Stadium, in Super Bowl XXX, getting revenge against the Steelers for the two four-point losses in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII. Gailey led the team to a 10-6 record in 1998, but was let go after an 8-8 playoff season in 1999, becoming the first Cowboys coach who did not win a Super Bowl.

Jones then lured Bill Parcells out of retirement to coach the Cowboys. The Cowboys became the surprise team of the 2003 season, posting a 10-6 record and a playoff berth by having the best overall defense in the NFL. However, during the next two seasons, the Parcells-led Cowboys missed the playoffs.