DCC Complete 63rd USO Tour
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are back from their eight-day trip to the Persian Gulf region as part of the USO/MNC-I entertainment tour.

DCC Reveal Annual Calendar
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders unveil their 2008 swimsuit calendar, shot on location in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region.

DCC 63rd USO Tour Photos
DCC journey to the Persian Gulf region as part of a USO/MNC-I entertainment tour.

CMT’s DCC: Making The Team
It takes more than great hair and a winning smile to make this squad. Premiering Friday, September 14!
The Dallas Cowboys are a team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League. They are based in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas. The team currently plays their home games in Irving but they are scheduled to move to a new stadium in nearby Arlington in 2009.[1] The Cowboys joined the National Football League (NFL) as a 1960 expansion team. The team’s national following might best be represented by its NFL record of consecutive games in front of sold out stadiums. The streak of 160 sold-out regular and post-season games began in 1990, and included 79 straight sellouts at Texas Stadium and 81 straight sell-outs on the road.[2]

An article on Forbes Magazine’s website, published September 13, 2007, lists the Cowboys as the most valuable sports team in the world, with an estimated value of approximately $1.5 billion, ahead of the Washington Redskins ($1.467 billion) and the New England Patriots ($1.199 billion). They are also one of the wealthiest teams in the NFL, generating almost $250 million in annual revenue.

The Cowboys are one of the most successful teams of the modern era (1960 and beyond.) The Cowboys have more victories (40) on the ever-popular Monday Night Football than any other NFL team (Miami is 2nd with 39 and the 49ers are 3rd with 38).[4] They hold NFL records for the most consecutive winning seasons (20, from 1966 to 1985) and most seasons with at least 10 wins (24). The team has earned the most postseason appearances (28, which includes another league record of 54 postseason games, winning 32 of them), the most appearances in the NFC Championship Game (14), and the most Super Bowl appearances (8), two more than any other NFL team. The Cowboys also played in 2 NFL championship games before the NFL’s 1970 merger with the American Football League. The Cowboys became the first team in NFL history to win 3 Super Bowls in just 4 years (a feat that has been matched only once since, by the New England Patriots). They are also tied with the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers for having the most Super Bowl wins (5).
Franchise history
Main article: History of the Dallas Cowboys
Originally, the formation of an NFL expansion team in Texas was met with strong opposition by Washington Redskins owner, George Preston Marshall. This was no surprise, because despite being located in the nation’s capital, Marshall’s Redskins had enjoyed a monopoly as the only NFL team to represent the Southern States of the US for several decades. This came as little surprise to would-be team owners, Clint Murchison, Jr. and Bedford Wynne. To ensure the birth of their expansion team, the men bought the rights to the Redskins fight song, “Hail to the Redskins” and threatened to refuse to allow Marshall to play the song at games. Needing the song, which was a staple for his “professional football team of Dixie”, Marshall changed his mind, and the city of Dallas, Texas, was granted an NFL franchise on January 28, 1960. This early confrontation between the two franchises no doubt triggered what would become one of the more significant rivalries in the NFL, which continues even to this day.
1960s thru 1970s
The team was first known as the Dallas Steers, then the Dallas Rangers before settling on the name “Cowboys” for the 1960 season. As their popularity grew beyond the borders of Texas, however, they became known as “America’s Team”, which was the title of the team’s 1978 NFL season highlights film. When that nickname was used by a sports announcer the following year, it stuck, and they’ve been referred to as such by sportscasters every year since then, including being introduced as “America’s Team” during the opening of the October 9, 2007 Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills.[5]

The new Dallas owners, Murchison and Wynne, immediately hired Tex Schramm to be the general manager and Tom Landry to be the head coach.[6] 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. Although the playoff game was a 34-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers, it marked the start of a record-setting eight consecutive playoff appearances. (From 1975 until 1983, the Cowboys would later match and extend that record, raising the bar to an NFL record nine straight playoff appearances.) By the mid-60s, the Cowboys had become a powerful force in the NFL, appearing in the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. 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. The Cowboys competed for the affections of the people of Dallas with Lamar Hunt’s Dallas Texans of the AFL. 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. By 1969, ground was being broken on a new stadium for the Cowboys to replace the Cotton Bowl. Texas Stadium in Irving, a Dallas County suburb, would be completed for the 1971 season.

Although Meredith and Perkins retired in 1969, many new players joined the organization in the 1970s, such as Cliff Harris, Lee Roy Jordan, and Dan Reeves, plus Pro Football Hall of Fame players Rayfield Wright, Mike Ditka, Herb Adderley, and Roger Staubach. Led by quarterback Craig Morton, the Cowboys made it to their first Super Bowl, a mistake-filled Super Bowl V, where they lost 16-13 to the Baltimore Colts courtesy of a field goal by Colts’ kicker Jim O’Brien with five seconds remaining in the contest. 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. Behind an MVP performance from Staubach and 252 yards passing, that game remains the only Super Bowl where a team has held their opponent without a touchdown.

During the rest of the 1970s, the Cowboys grew in popularity, not just in Dallas, but nationwide. The Cowboys drafted well too, adding new legends like future Hall of Famers Randy White and Tony Dorsett. 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.
1980s thru 1990s
Danny White became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in 1980 after Hall of Fame Roger Staubach retired, and led the Cowboys to the playoffs five times and won two Division Championships. However, despite playing in the NFC championship game three consecutive years from 1980-1982, they did not reach the Super Bowl during that decade. 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 became disenchanted with the team, telling the media that he was “horrified” at Landry’s play calling during an embarrassing home loss to Atlanta in 1987. Bright sold the Cowboys to Jerry Jones on February 25, 1989.

Jones promptly fired Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry, the only coach the Cowboys ever had, and replaced him with University of Miami head coach, Jimmy Johnson. With the first pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman and traded away veteran running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for five veteran players and eight draft choices. Although the Cowboys finished the 1989 season with a 1-15 record, the worst record since the team’s inception, they were able to draft a number of impact players, including running back Emmitt Smith, to rebuild the team.

In 1992, three years after their 1-15 season, the Cowboys finished with a 13-3 record (second best in the league) and went on to beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, 52-17, forcing a Super Bowl record nine turnovers. 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. The Cowboys sent an NFL record 11 players to the Pro Bowl: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Thomas Everett, Daryl Johnston, Russell Maryland, Nate Newton, Ken Norton Jr, Jay Novacek, Mark Stepnoski, and Erik Williams. Johnson and owner Jerry Jones had a falling-out, so Johnson left the organization prior to the 1994 season. 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. In 1995, Jones lured All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders away from San Francisco and Dallas once again posted a 12-4 regular season record. The Cowboys eventually defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17 at Sun Devil Stadium, in Super Bowl XXX. Coach Switzer became the second, and only other coach, to claim a National Championship in college football and a Super Bowl victory in professional football.

However, the glory days of the Cowboys were again beginning to dim as free agency, age, and injuries began taking their toll. The Cowboys went 6-10 in 1997, with discipline and off-field problems becoming major distractions. As a result, Switzer resigned as head coach in January 1998 and former Steelers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was hired to take his place. Gailey led the team to a 10-6 record in 1998 and an NFC East championship, but was let go after an 8-8 playoff season in 1999, becoming the first Cowboys coach who did not win a Super Bowl.
Present era
Defensive coordinator Dave Campo was promoted to head coach, but he could only post three consecutive 5-11 seasons. Many fans and media were beginning to blame Jerry Jones for the team’s ills, noting that he refused to hire a strong coach, preferring to hire coaches who did not want to be involved with personnel duties so that Jones himself could manage them. 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. The Cowboys then finished an up-and-down 2006 season with a 9-7 record and a playoff appearance, but after a last second loss in the Wild Card Game against the Seattle Seahawks, Parcells retired and was succeeded by Wade Phillips.[7]
Team colors
The Dallas Cowboys white home jerseys have royal blue (PMS 661) solid socks, numbers, lettering, and two stripes on the sleeves outlined in black. The home pants, according to the Dallas Cowboys official media guide, are a unique metallic silver-green color (PMS 8280) that help bring out the blue in the uniform. The navy (PMS 282) away jerseys (nicknamed the “Stars and Stripes” jersey) have white lettering and numbers with navy pinstripes. A white/gray/white stripe are on each sleeve as well as the collared V-neck and Cowboys star logo was placed upon the stripes. The away pants are a pearlish metallic-silver color (PMS 8240) and like the home pants, enhance the navy in the uniforms. The Cowboys use a serifed font for the lettered player surnames on the jersey nameplates.

PMS - Pantone Matching System
 
Dallas Cowboys home (left) and away (right) uniforms.
Uniforms
When the Dallas Cowboys franchise debuted in 1960, the team’s logo was a simple blue star adorned atop white helmets. The team wore blue jerseys with white sleeves and a small blue star on each shoulder for home games and the negative opposite for away games. Their socks also had two horizontal white stripes overlapping the blue.

In 1964, the logo would later be modified to include a white border outlining the blue star and in 1967 the team changed the star once more by making the white a pinstripe. This would be the team’s present logo to this day.

In 1965, the Cowboys opted for more of a simple look and changed their jerseys/socks to one solid color with three horizontal blue stripes on the sleeves. A year later in 1966, the team narrowed the stripes to two per sleeve/sock and this version of the uniform has seen little change to the present day. The only notable changes in the last 40 years to the jerseys were:

from 1970-1973 when the “TV” numbers were moved from the shoulders to the sleeves above the stripes
the removal of the indented serifs on the front and back jersey numbers in the early 80’s (seen currently on the throwback jerseys)
the 1996 addition of the word “Cowboys” in the center of the neckline which lasted until 1998 on the white jerseys but currently remains on the dark ones.
In 1994, the NFL celebrated their 75th Anniversary and the Dallas Cowboys celebrated their back-to-back Super Bowl titles by unveiling the white “Double-Star” jersey on Thanksgiving Day. This special jersey was used on Monday Night Football and throughout the season’s playoffs.

During the 1995 season, the team wore the navy “Double-Star” jerseys for games at Washington and Philadelphia. These jerseys were not seen again until the NFL’s Classic Throwback Weekend on Thanksgiving Day 2001-2003

In 2004, the Cowboys went further back into their illustrious history and donned the 1962 era dark jerseys including white helmets and pants. This would be the team’s present alternate or 3rd jersey.

The Dallas Cowboys were the first NFL team to primarily wear their white jerseys at home, as it was an unofficial rule that teams wear their colored jerseys at home. This tradition started in the 1960s by then-general manager Tex Schramm, who wanted fans to see a variety of opponents’ colors at home games. [8] Since then, a number of other teams have worn their white uniforms at home such as the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.
The white Double-Star jersey worn during the 1994 NFL 75th anniversary season.
The navy Double-Star jersey worn during the 1995 season and Thanksgiving Day 2001-2003.
The Thanksgiving Day throwback worn 2004-present.
Rivalries
The Cowboys’ most heated rivalry is with the Washington Redskins. Although Dallas has mostly dominated Washington since its last Super Bowl victory, (17-5 record dating back to the 1996 season), Washington currently enjoys a 3-1 record over Dallas since 2005, including a season sweep in 2005, Washington’s first in a decade, when Dallas won their last Super Bowl. However, the Cowboys also enjoy a rivalry with their fellow NFC East teams, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. Some consider the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans rivals as well; the Panthers because of the contests that, one way or another, impacted the losing team’s postseason, and the Texans, obviously because of the in-state affiliation.

The 1982 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers helped form a rivalry between those two teams. That game is most notable for Joe Montana’s game winning pass to Dwight Clark, now known as The Catch. San Francisco went on to win their first of five Super Bowls. During the 1992, 1993, and 1994 seasons, both Dallas and San Francisco faced each other in each season’s respective NFC Championship game. Dallas won the first two match-ups, and San Francisco won the third. In all three years, the NFC champion went on to win the Super Bowl, thus building upon their dynasties.
The Cowboys also enjoy a minor rivalry with the Green Bay Packers, which also began in the 1990s. Dallas defeated Green Bay in NFC divisional playoff games during the 1993 and 1994 seasons, and again during the 1996 NFC Championship and went on to win their third Super Bowl in four seasons (1992, 1993, 1995).
Season-by-season records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
1960 0 11 1 7th West –
1961 4 9 1 6th East –
1962 5 8 1 5th East –
1963 4 10 0 5th East –
1964 5 8 1 5th East –
1965 7 7 0 2nd East –
1966 10 3 1 1st East Lost NFL Championship Game (Packers) 34-27
1967 9 5 0 1st Capitol Won Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 52-10
Lost NFL Championship Game (Packers) 21-17
1968 12 2 0 1st Capitol Lost Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 31-20
1969 11 2 1 1st Capitol Lost Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 38-14
1970 10 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Lions) 5-0
Won Conference Championship (49ers) 17-10
Lost Super Bowl V (Colts) 16-13
1971 11 3 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 20-12
Won Conference Championship (49ers) 14-3
Won Super Bowl VI (Dolphins) 24-3
1972 10 4 0 2nd NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 30-28
Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) 26-3
1973 10 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 27-16
Lost Conference Championship (Vikings) 27-10
1974 8 6 0 3rd NFC East –
1975 10 4 0 2nd NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 17-14
Won Conference Championship (L.A. Rams) 37-7
Lost Super Bowl X (Steelers) 21-17
1976 11 3 0 1st NFC East Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 14-12
1977 12 2 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears) 37-7
Won Divisional Playoffs (Vikings) 23-6
Won Super Bowl XII (Broncos) 27-10
1978 12 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Falcons) 27-20
Won Conference Championship (L.A. Rams) 28-0
Lost Super Bowl XIII (Steelers 35-31)
1979 11 5 0 1st NFC East Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 21-19
 
1980 12 4 0 2nd NFC East Won Wild Card Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 34-17
Won Divisional Playoffs (Falcons) 30-27
Lost Conference Championship (Eagles) 20-7
1981 12 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) 38-0
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) 28-27
1982 6 3 0 2nd NFC Conf.+ Won First Round (Buccaneers) 30-17
Won Second Round (Packers) 37-26
Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) 31-17
1983 12 4 0 2nd NFC East Lost Wild Card Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 24-17
1984 9 7 0 4th NFC East –
1985 10 6 0 1st NFC East Lost Divisional Playoffs (L.A. Rams) 20-0
1986 7 9 0 3rd NFC East –
1987 7 8 0 4th NFC East –
1988 3 13 0 5th NFC East –
1989 1 15 0 5th NFC East –
1990 7 9 0 4th NFC East –
1991 11 5 0 2nd NFC East Won Wild Card Playoffs (Bears) 17-13
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Lions) 38-6
1992 13 3 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 34-10
Won Conference Championship (49ers) 30-20
Won Super Bowl XXVII (Bills) 52-17
1993 12 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 27-17
Won Conference Championship (49ers) 38-21
Won Super Bowl XXVIII (Bills) 30-13
1994 12 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 35-9
Lost Conference Championship (49ers) 38-28
1995 12 4 0 1st NFC East Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 30-11
Won Conference Championship (Packers) 38-27
Won Super Bowl XXX (Steelers) 27-17
1996 10 6 0 1st NFC East Won Wild Card Playoffs (Vikings) 40-15
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Panthers) 26-17
1997 6 10 0 4th NFC East –
1998 10 6 0 1st NFC East Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Cardinals) 20-7
1999 8 8 0 2nd NFC East Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Vikings) 27-10
2000 5 11 0 4th NFC East –
2001 5 11 0 5th NFC East –
2002 5 11 0 4th NFC East –
2003 10 6 0 2nd NFC East Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Panthers) 29-10
2004 6 10 0 3rd NFC East –
2005 9 7 0 3rd NFC East –
2006 9 7 0 2nd NFC East Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Seahawks) 21-20
*2007 5 0 0 — –
Totals 437 322 6 (1960-2007, including NFL playoffs)

* = Current Standing
+ = Due to a strike-shortened season in 1982, all teams were ranked by conference instead of division.
Players of note
Main article: List of Dallas Cowboys players

Current roster
Dallas Cowboys roster view • talk • edit
Quarterbacks
14 Brad Johnson
 9 Tony Romo
Running Backs

34 Deon Anderson FB
24 Marion Barber III
46 Oliver Hoyte FB
21 Julius Jones
28 Tyson Thompson RB/KR
Wide Receivers

19 Miles Austin
84 Patrick Crayton WR/PR
83 Terry Glenn
17 Sam Hurd
81 Terrell Owens
86 Isaiah Stanback
Tight Ends

89 Tony Curtis
80 Anthony Fasano
82 Jason Witten
  Offensive Linemen

76 Flozell Adams T
67 Joe Berger G
75 Marc Colombo T
70 Leonard Davis G
68 Doug Free T
65 Andre Gurode C
63 Kyle Kosier G
78 James Marten T
77 Pat McQuistan T
71 Cory Procter C
Defensive Linemen

92 Remi Ayodele NT
72 Stephen Bowen DE
99 Chris Canty DE
97 Jason Hatcher DE
90 Jeremiah Ratliff NT/DE
96 Marcus Spears DE
  Linebackers
51 Akin Ayodele ILB
57 Kevin Burnett ILB
54 Bobby Carpenter ILB
98 Greg Ellis OLB
56 Bradie James ILB
50 Justin Rogers OLB
93 Anthony Spencer OLB
94 Demarcus Ware OLB
Defensive Backs

27 Courtney Brown FS
29 Keith Davis SS
26 Ken Hamlin FS
42 Anthony Henry CB
33 Nathan Jones CB
41 Terence Newman CB
23 Evan Oglesby CB
35 Jacques Reeves CB
25 Pat Watkins FS
31 Roy Williams SS
Special Teams

 6 Nick Folk K
91 L. P. Ladouceur LS
 1 Mat McBriar P
  Reserve lists
95 Jason Ferguson NT (IR)
66 Tank Johnson NT (Susp.)
Practice Squad

20 Alan Ball CB
 4 Richard Bartel QB
36 Quincy Butler CB
30 Alonzo Coleman RB
44 Rodney Hannah TE
85 Mike Jefferson WR
52 Khari Long OLB
60 Marcus Smith DE

Rookies in italics
Roster updated 2007-10-11
Depth Chart • Transactions

→ More rosters
 
 ===Pro Football Hall of Fame===
Troy Aikman Class of 2006 (QB 1989-2000)
Tony Dorsett Class of 1994 (RB 1977-87)
Michael Irvin Class of 2007 (WR 1988-1999)
Tom Landry Class of 1990 (Head Coach 1960-88)
Bob Lilly Class of 1980 (DT 1961-74)
Mel Renfro Class of 1996 (S/CB 1964-77)
Tex Schramm Class of 1991 (Pres/GM 1960-89)
Roger Staubach Class of 1985 (QB 1964-79)
Randy White Class of 1994 (DT 1975-88)
Rayfield Wright Class of 2006 (OT 1967-1979)
Due to the rich history of the Cowboys from the 1960s, 1970s and 1990s, one would assume that the Cowboys would have a large number of inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, they do not. Many have raised strong arguments asking why many Cowboys legends have been snubbed by the Hall’s induction committee, especially those who played during the decade of the 1970s. On the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1970s all-decade team (selected by the same group as the one charged with picking the inductees), there are six Dallas Cowboys (Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright, Roger Staubach, Harvey Martin, Bob Lilly, and Cliff Harris) and eight Pittsburgh Steelers (Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, L.C. Greenwood, “Mean” Joe Greene, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert)*. Of those, only three Cowboys have been inducted (Wright, Staubach and Lilly) versus seven Steelers (all but Greenwood). Not including the two kickers and one punter on the team, the three Cowboys are among only eleven players on the forty-five man roster not in the Hall.

Others point out that many of the teams ahead of Dallas in number of inductees have been around much longer. The top five teams (the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins, respectively) were all founded in 1933 or before. The Cowboys were founded in 1960. Others argue that the defensive players for the Cowboys in the 1970s operated under an ingenious system devised by Head Coach Tom Landry (see above) which inflated the public’s perception of their supposed skill. The debate over an anti-Cowboys bias still rages today.[9][10]

(*)The NFL does not officially identify players with the team with whom they played most of their career. All teams for whom a player played are recognized equally. (**)Numbers do not include players who played a minority of their career with the Cowboys or other teams. For example, Lance Alworth played for the San Diego Chargers from 1962-1970, and with the Cowboys from 1971-1972. He is not included for the Cowboys, nor is Mike Ditka, who played for 8 years with the Bears and Eagles before ending his career with a four-year stint with the Cowboys.
Super Bowl MVPs
Although the Cowboys are tied with the 49ers and Steelers for the most Super Bowl victories with 5, Dallas actually holds the record for the most Super Bowl games played (8) and the most Super Bowl MVPs with 7:

Linebacker Chuck Howley - Super Bowl V - Howley was named the MVP for Super Bowl V despite the Cowboys’ loss to the Baltimore Colts. He is the only member of a losing team to win the award. In recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery during the game, Howley was the first defensive player to win the honor.
Quarterback Roger Staubach - Super Bowl VI - Staubach became the fifth quarterback overall to be awarded the MVP trophy after Dallas’ win over the Miami Dolphins. He completed 12 out of 19 passes for 119 yards, threw 2 touchdown passes, and rushed 5 times for 18 yards.
(Tie) Defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin - Super Bowl XII - Super Bowl XII marked the first time that two players won MVP honors. White and Martin, who helped the Cowboys defeat the Denver Broncos, became the first defensive linemen to win the award.
See #3
Quarterback Troy Aikman - Super Bowl XXVII - Aikman became the second Cowboys quarterback to earn the MVP honor as he led the Cowboys to victory against the Buffalo Bills. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also rushing for 28 yards.
Running back Emmitt Smith - Super Bowl XXVIII - Smith’s 30 carries for 132 yards, 4 receptions for 26 yards, and two touchdowns led Dallas to a victory over the Buffalo Bills. In that same year, Smith became the first player to win the Super Bowl, the NFL rushing title (i.e. lead the league in rushing), the NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and the Super Bowl MVP all in one season.
Cornerback Larry Brown - Super Bowl XXX - Brown became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP, recording two interceptions for a total of 77 return yards. The Cowboys sealed the victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers by converting both of Brown’s interceptions into touchdowns.

Retired numbers/”Ring of Honor”
Unlike many NFL teams, the Cowboys do not retire jersey numbers of past standouts as a matter of policy. Instead, the team has a “Ring of Honor”, which is on permanent display encircling the field at Texas Stadium in Irving. The first inductee was Bob Lilly in 1975 and by 2005, the hallowed ring contained 17 names, all former Dallas players except for one head coach and one general manager/president.

The Ring of Honor has been a source of controversy over the years. Tex Schramm was believed to be a “one man” committee in choosing inductees and many former Cowboys players and fans felt that Schramm deliberately excluded linebacker Lee Roy Jordan because of a bitter contract dispute the two had during Jordan’s playing days. When Jerry Jones bought the team he inherited Schramm’s Ring of Honor “power” and immediately inducted Jordan.

Jones also had controversy. For four years he was unsuccessful in convincing Tom Landry to accept induction. Meanwhile, he refused to induct Tex Schramm (even after Schramm’s induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame). In 1993, thanks in part to the efforts of Roger Staubach as an intermediary, Landry accepted induction and had a ceremony on the day of that year’s Cowboys-Giants game (Landry had played and coached for the Giants). In 2003, Jones finally chose to induct Tex Schramm. Schramm and Jones held a joint press conference at Texas Stadium announcing the induction. Unfortunately, Schramm did not live to see his ceremonial induction at the Cowboys-Eagles game that fall.

However, some numbers of retired players, such as Roger Staubach #12 and Bob Lilly #74, are unofficially kept “inactive” to prevent them from being worn by current or future players. Troy Aikman #8, and Emmitt Smith #22, are other examples of this unofficial “rule.”

The most recent inductees were: Troy Aikman, All-Time NFL leading rusher Emmitt Smith and Michael “the Playmaker” Irvin, known as “The Triplets”. The Cowboys waited until Smith had retired as a player before inducting Aikman and Irvin, so all three could be inducted together, which occurred during half time at a Monday Night Football home game against the arch-rival Washington Redskins on September 19, 2005.

Although the team does not officially retire jersey numbers, it is uncommon to find any current players wearing the number of one of the “Ring of Honor” inductees. The numbers of inductees Aikman (8), Staubach (12), Hayes and Smith (22), Perkins and Harris (43) and Lilly (74) were not worn during the 2006 season.
Other notable alumni
The following is a list of players who also made valuable contributions to the Dallas Cowboys, but are not in either the Pro Football Hall of Fame or the Ring of Honor:

Larry Allen (OG 1994-2005)
George Andrie (DE 1962-72)
Brian Baldinger (OG 1982-87)
Bill Bates (S 1983-97)
Bob Breunig (LB 1975-84)
Larry Brown (DB 1991-1995, 1998)
Dexter Coakley (LB 1997-2004)
Larry Cole (DE 1968-80)
Doug Cosbie (TE 1979-88)
Pat Donovan (OT 1975-83)
Michael Downs (DB 1981-88)
Billy Joe Dupree (TE 1973-83)
Dave Edwards (OLB 1963-75)
Kenneth Gant (DB 1989-97)
Walt Garrison (FB 1966-74)
Peter Gent (WR 1964-1968)
La’Roi Glover (DT 2002-2005)
Cornell Green (DB 1962-74)
Charles Haley (DE 1992-96)
Craig Morton (QB 1971-76)
Alvin Harper (WR 1991-94)
Mike Hegman (LB 1976-87)
Dale Hellestrae (OL 1990-2000)
Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson (LB 1975-79)
Calvin Hill (RB 1969-74)
Tony Hill (WR 1977-86)
Raghib Ismail (WR 1999-2001)
Jim Jeffcoat (DE 1983-94)
Daryl Johnston (FB 1989-99)
Ed “Too Tall” Jones (DE 1974-78, 1980-89)
D.D. Lewis (LB 1968-81)
Leon Lett (DL 1991-2000)
Eugene Lockhart (LB 1984-90)
Harvey Martin (DE 1973-83)
Russell Maryland (DT 1991-95)
Robert Newhouse (RB 1972-83)
Nate Newton (OL 1986-98)
Dat Nguyen (LB 1999-2005)
John Niland (OL 1966-74)
Jay Novacek (TE 1990-95)
Ken Norton Jr. (LB 1988-93)
Drew Pearson (WR 1973-1983)
Jethro Pugh (DT 1965-78)
Tom Rafferty (OL 1976-1990)
Dan Reeves (FB 1965-72, asst coach/OC 1972,1974-81)
Deion Sanders (CB 1995-1999)
Mike Saxon (P 1985-1992)
Herbert Scott (OL 1975-84)
Kevin Smith (DB 1992-1998)
Mark Stepnoski (OL 1989-1994, 1999-2000)
Fred Strickland (LB 1996-1998)
George Teague (DB 1996, 1998-2001)
Jerry Tubbs (LB 1960-67; LB coach 1967-89)
Mark Tuinei (OL 1983-97)
Herschel Walker (RB 1986-89, 1996-97)
Everson Walls (DB 1981-89)
John Warren (P 1983-84)
Charlie Waters (DB 1970-81)
Danny White (P/QB 1976-88)
Erik Williams (OT 1991-2000)
Darren Woodson (DB 1992-2004)
All-time first-round draft picks
Year Player College Position
1961 Bob Lilly TCU Tackle
1962 No Selection 
1963 Lee Roy Jordan Alabama Linebacker
1964 Scott Appleton Texas Tackle
1965 Craig Morton California Quarterback
1966 John Niland Iowa Guard
1967 No Selection 
1968 Dennis Homan Alabama End
1969 Calvin Hill Yale Running back
1970 Duane Thomas W. Texas State Running back
1971 Tody Smith USC Defensive end
1972 Bill Thomas Boston College Running back
1973 Billy Joe Dupree Michigan State Tight end
1974 Ed “Too Tall” Jones Tennessee State Defensive end
1974 Charley Young North Carolina St. Running back
1975 Randy White Maryland Linebacker
1975 Thomas Henderson Langston Linebacker
1976 Aaron Kyle Wyoming Defensive back
1977 Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh Running back
1978 Larry Bethea Michigan State Defensive end
1979 Robert Shaw Tennessee Center
1980 No Selection 
1981 Howard Richards Missouri Tackle
1982 Rod Hill Kentucky State Defensive back
1983 Jim Jeffcoat Arizona State Defensive end
1984 Billy Cannon, Jr. Texas A&M Linebacker
1985 Kevin Brooks Michigan Defensive end
1986 Mike Sherrard UCLA Wide receiver
1987 Danny Noonan Nebraska Defensive tackle
1988 Michael Irvin Miami Wide receiver
1989 Troy Aikman UCLA Quarterback
1990 Emmitt Smith Florida Running back
1991 Russell Maryland Miami Defensive tackle
1991 Alvin Harper Tennessee Wide receiver
1991 Kelvin Pritchett Mississippi Defensive tackle
1992 Kevin Smith Texas A&M Defensive back
1992 Robert Jones South Carolina State Linebacker
1993 No Selection 
1994 Shante Carver Arizona State Defensive end
1995 No Selection 
1996 No Selection 
1997 David LaFleur LSU Tight end
1998 Greg Ellis UNC Defensive end
1999 Ebenezer Ekuban UNC Defensive end
2000 No Selection 
2001 No Selection 
2002 Roy Williams Oklahoma Safety
2003 Terence Newman Kansas State Cornerback
2004 No Selection 
2005 Demarcus Ware Troy State Defensive end
2005 Marcus Spears Louisiana State Defensive end
2006 Bobby Carpenter Ohio State Linebacker
2007 Anthony Spencer Purdue Linebacker
Coaches of note

Head coaches
The following table shows each coach’s record while with the Cowboys. (Since some coached other NFL teams, their overall record may differ.)

Year Coach Record Notable Wins
1960-1988 Tom Landry (270-178-6) Ranked 3rd All-Time. 5 Conference Championships, 2 Super Bowl victories. 20 straight winning seasons.
1989-1993 Jimmy Johnson (51-37) 2 Conference Championships, 2 Super Bowl victories.
1994-1997 Barry Switzer (45-26) 1 Conference Championship, 1 Super Bowl victory.
1998-1999 Chan Gailey (18-14)
2000-2002 Dave Campo (15-33)
2003-2006 Bill Parcells (34-32) 2 Playoff Appearances
2007-present Wade Phillips (5-0)
Current staff
Dallas Cowboys staff v • d • e
 
 Front Office
Owner/President/General Manager - Jerry Jones
Executive Vice President/COO - Stephen Jones
Vice President/Chiefs Sales & Marketing Officer - Jerry Jones, Jr.
Head Coaches

Head Coach - Wade Phillips
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line - Tony Sparano
Offensive Coaches

Offensive Coordinator - Jason Garrett
Quarterbacks - Wade Wilson
Running Backs - Skip Peete
Wide Receivers - Ray Sherman
Tight Ends - John Garrett
Offensive Assistant/Quality Control - Wesley Phillips
    Defensive Coaches

Defensive Coordinator - Brian Stewart
Defensive Line - Kacy Rodgers
Linebackers - Paul Pasqualoni
Assistant Linebackers/Defensive Quality Control - Dat Nguyen
Secondary - Todd Bowles
Special Teams Coaches

Special Teams - Bruce Read
Strength and Conditioning

Strength and Conditioning - Joe Juraszek

→ Coaching Staff
→ More NFL staffs
 

Radio and television
As of 2007, the Cowboys’ flagship radio stations were KDBN-FM (93.3 The Bone) and KTCK (1310 The Ticket). Both are owned by Cumulus Media. Brad Sham returns as the team’s longtime play-by-play voice. Working alongside him in 2007 is former Cowboy quarterback Babe Laufenberg, who returns after a one-year absence to replace former safety Charlie Waters. The Cowboys, who retain rights to all announcers, chose not to renew Laufenberg’s contract in 2006 and brought in Waters. However, Laufenberg did work as the analyst on the “Silver Star Network,” which televises Cowboys preseason games not shown on national networks. The anchor station is KTVT, the CBS owned and operated station in Dallas. Previous stations which aired Cowboys games included KVIL-FM and KRLD. Kristi Scales is the sideline reporter on the radio broadcasts.

During his tenure as Cowboys coach, Tom Landry co-hosted his own coach’s show with late veteran sportscaster Frank Glieber and later with Brad Sham. Landry’s show was famous for his analysis of raw game footage and for he and his co-host making their NFL “predictions” at the end of each show. Glieber is one of the original voices of the Cowboys Radio Network, along with Bill Mercer, famous for calling the Ice Bowl of 1967 and both Super Bowl V and VI. Mercer is perhaps best known as the ringside commentator of World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s. Upon Mercer’s departure, Verne Lundquist joined the network, and became their play-by-play announcer by 1977, serving eight years in that capacity before handing those chores permanently over to Brad Sham, who joined the network in 1977 as the color analyst and occasional fill-in for Lundquist.
Other broadcasters with Cowboy ties
Additionally, several former players and coaches for the Dallas Cowboys picked up the broadcast microphone:

Don Meredith - became a color commentator for ABC’s Monday Night Football beginning in 1970. For years, he was paired alongside Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell. Meredith retired from sportscasting after the 1984 season, one year after Cosell’s retirement. Meredith’s last game for ABC was Super Bowl XIX, ABC’s first Super Bowl broadcast. Meredith was also a color commentator for Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl XI while at NBC.
Drew Pearson - has worked exclusively as a sportscaster for such networks as CBS, HBO and NBC5 in Dallas/Ft. Worth since his retirement in 1983.
Daryl Johnston - aka “Moose” is a color commentator for the NFL on Fox telecasts, teaming with Kenny Albert and Tony Siragusa on the sidelines.
Troy Aikman - joined Fox’s NFC telecasts as a color commentator for the 2001 season. A year later, he was named to the network’s lead announcing crew, teaming with Joe Buck and Cris Collinsworth. Aikman received an Emmy Award nomination for his television work in 2004, and worked Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIX in January 2005. Aikman also hosts a weekly sports radio show which airs on Thursday from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. ET on Sporting News Radio along with Brad Sham, who was instrumental in starting Aikman’s broadcasting career.
Michael Irvin - co-hosted NBC Sports studio coverage of Arena Football League games in 2003. Irvin co-anchored the widely-viewed Sunday football pre-game show Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown on ESPN from 2003 through the 2006 season. Irvin retired in 1999 after 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Emmitt Smith - signed on to serve as a studio analyst on the NFL Network show, NFL Total Access in August 2005. Smith was hired by ESPN in March 2007 to replace Michael Irvin.
Deion Sanders - worked as a sports pre-game commentator for CBS’ The NFL Today after retiring from the NFL in 2001. He remained with CBS until 2004 when contract negotiations failed. Sanders frequently made guest appearances on ESPN, especially on the ESPN Radio Dallas affiliate, and briefly hosted a show called The New American Sportsman. In 2004, he returned to professional football, playing for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring again after the 2005 season. He has returned the broadcasting working as an analyst for the NFL Network on NFL GameDay.
Jimmy Johnson - became a TV analyst for Fox Sports after retiring from coaching in 1999, and (as of 2006) he is part of their pregame show.
Butch Davis - after a stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, the former Defensive Coordinator and coach of the Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line was seen on NFL Playbook, an NFL Network program, until his hiring on November 14, 2006 as coach of the University of North Carolina football program.
Darren Woodson - worked as a color analyst for two NFL Europe games in the summer of 2004, before signing on as an occasional studio analyst with ESPN.
James Washington - co-host of one of fastest growing Sports Talk Radio programs (Out of Bounds) available on Fox Sports Radio
Keyshawn Johnson - retired in May 2007 after 11 years in the NFL (2 seasons with the Cowboys) to join the ESPN crew of Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown as an analyst. He will also contribute to a new weekly ESPN Radio NFL show hosted by Chris Mortensen and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells.
IRVING — Excuse Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for wondering what all the fuss is about.

Sure, they find it interesting their game today against the Dallas Cowboys is just the fifth in NFL history between unbeaten teams with at least five wins. However, they were part of the last such meeting.

The Patriots also can appreciate all the star power that will be on display: Brady and Randy Moss on their side, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens on the other, both at the top of the NFL scoring list.

But, c’mon. This is October. The Red Sox play meaningful, historic games this time of year, not the Patriots. The only dates circled on New England’s calendar are the trip to Indianapolis in three weeks and an expected trip to Arizona in February.

“There have been a lot of big games around here,” Brady said. “I don’t think we’re building this to anything more than it really is, which is another game on our schedule. It’s another game that we’re hoping to play our best and make improvements.”

That’s certainly not the perspective in Dallas.

From players to fans, anyone aligned with the Cowboys sees this as a tantalizing matchup, a chance to show that “America’s Team” is headed back to the top. With Romo leading them to their best start since 1983, this game should show whether they’re as good as they think they are.

Even impartial observers are calling this a possible Super Bowl preview. If nothing else, it will show how the NFC’s best stacks up against one of the AFC’s big boys.

“This is one of those games you dream about,” Dallas linebacker Bradie James said. “To get to where those guys have been, we’ve got to beat these guys, the guys who are considered the best.”

This is easily the Cowboys’ most anticipated regular-season game at Texas Stadium since 1995, when the San Francisco 49ers visited in a matchup of teams that had met in the previous three NFC title games and combined to win the last three Super Bowls. San Francisco won that game; Dallas went on to win that season’s Super Bowl.

Cowboys home games are known for the hole in the roof and the cheerleaders, not for boisterous fans. But the parking lot will open six hours before kickoff and the turnstiles three hours early, obvious invitations for folks to get into the spirit — and into the liquid spirits — in plenty of time to create an atmosphere that lives up to the caliber of these teams.
“This is why you work so hard, why you do all the things you do in the offseason, to get to this point so you can play in big games,” Romo said. “That’s what makes it fun. It will be a really enjoyable experience either way.”

Romo and Brady are an interesting pair.

Draft-day afterthoughts who had to work their way up the pecking order, both ousted Drew Bledsoe to get their job and have never looked back. Both also will be marking statistical milestones today: regular-season start No. 100 for Brady, No. 16 for Romo, marking the equivalent of his first full season.

Since Romo’s ascent this time last year, he’s thrown for the most yards in the NFL. He has the second-most TD passes, one behind Brady. Throw in the celebrity status that Brady has and Romo is fast approaching, and it’s surprising they hardly know each other, having met briefly this past offseason.

“It wasn’t a big thing,” Romo said. “It was just normal, two guys talking.”

Another similarity is the defensive challenge the quarterbacks are about to face.

Knowing New England coach Bill Belichick’s reputation for designing confusing schemes, Romo spent the week plotting how he can avoid getting fooled. Playing such mind games could be risky for a guy who threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in his last outing.

Brady is leery because he’s struggled the two times he’s faced a defense run by Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, completing only 54 percent of his passes with four interceptions and three touchdowns. Brady, however, still managed to lead the Pats past Phillips and the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs last season.

Phillips’ unit isn’t as ferocious as the one he left behind, but the Cowboys are getting there. The defense has given up only a field goal over the last two games and only one touchdown in three games.

The flip side is that Brady’s supporting cast is better this season, starting with Moss — the guy Owens had in mind when he offered his version of “no comment” about this game, a sign taped to his locker that mentioned “the original 81 and the other 81.”

T.O., of course, considers himself the original, and only partly because he wore the number first.

Owens leads Moss 2-1 in head-to-head meetings, but Moss had the most spectacular performance, a 172-yard, three-touchdown show for Minnesota in 2003 that left Owens muttering, “He’s the best.” Moss has plenty more highlight clips from games against the Cowboys, especially at Texas Stadium.

Moss is coming off his first game without a touchdown or 100 yards, but Owens has only five catches for 58 yards over the last two games. Owens has gone three straight without a touchdown. If the Cowboys hadn’t pulled out an amazing finish Monday night in Buffalo, his drops of some key passes would be a bigger story this week.

“He’s going to be very motivated,” tight end Jason Witten said. “He wants to be the best on the field at all times. Obviously he’s got a huge challenge this week. We’re going to need him to play big and come alive.”

Slowing Moss will be especially tough for a banged-up Dallas secondary. Terence Newman has the speed, but he’s nursing foot and knee injuries. Anthony Henry has the size, but he missed the last game with a high ankle sprain and isn’t expected to play.

From quarterbacks to receivers, coaches to even the owners (Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft, each with three Super Bowls and hoping for a fourth this season), everyone has bragging rights on the line today.

Oddsmakers are leaning toward New England. History leans toward Dallas, as the home team is 3-0-1 in previous matchups of teams 5-0 or better.

IRVING — Cowboys coach Wade Phillips insisted Friday that he never said that New England’s three Super Bowl championships were tainted.

Two days before the already much-hyped matchup of 5-0 teams, when the Patriots play in Dallas, Phillips denied making such comments after New England coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team lost a draft pick for videotaping an opposing sideline this season.

“I think it’s ludicrous to demean a team, an organization that has done a great job and won all those games, and deserved every bit of it,” Phillips said. “They won all those championships. They deserve every bit of what they got.”

On HBO’s “Inside the NFL” program this week, Peter King claimed in a discussion about the Patriots that Phillips suggested to King that their three Super Bowl titles in four seasons were tainted because of the spying allegations.

“The league, the Patriots, everybody, they just want this spygate thing to go away,” King said. “But Wade Phillips this week told me something that I think a lot of coaches around the league and a lot of people around the league are still thinking, and that is, ‘Hey, New England was caught cheating and it is a black mark on their success.”‘

Phillips acknowledged talking to King, but insisted that isn’t what he said — or even inferred — during their conversation.

“To quote me as saying black mark, that’s an Eastern term. That’s a Connecticut term,” Phillips said. “I might use smudge or something like that from Texas. … I’m sure he misconstrued what I said.”

Phillips, the folksy coach and Texas native, said he doesn’t think the alleged comments would have any impact on Sunday’s game.

“I don’t think Wade did anything. He’s a pretty trustworthy guy,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said.

“That’s not the character of our coach. I’m sure he didn’t do anything like that,” linebacker Bradie James said. “It really doesn’t matter. We’re about 48 hours away from playing a pretty big in-season game, so that really doesn’t matter.”

The Patriots were fined $250,000 for allegedly recording defensive signals. New England also must forfeit a first-round draft pick next year if it makes the playoffs, or a second- and third-rounder if it doesn’t.

A video camera aimed at New York Jets coaches was confiscated from a Patriots employee during the first quarter of the team’s 38-14 win Sept. 9 over New York. Jets coach Eric Mangini is the Patriots former defensive coordinator.

“If you’re cheating and you get caught, something is tainted,” Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears said. “It has an asterisk by it.”

Spears then mentioned Marion Jones, who returned five Olympic medals after admitting she used performance-enhancing drugs. So should the Patriots have to give up their Super Bowl trophies?

“No, because I didn’t know if they were cheating before they won the Super Bowl. They got caught after they won the Super Bowl,” Spears said. “It’s not cheating if you don’t get caught. … When you get caught, say you’re sorry, take your punishment and move on.”