History of Dallas Cowboys in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 17, 2026

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, competing in the NFL as a member of the NFC East division. Established in 1960, the franchise is renowned for its immense global brand, massive fanbase, and distinctive blue and silver uniforms, which have earned them the nickname 'America's Team.' Playing their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys have a storied history featuring five Super Bowl championships. The organization has been home to legendary players such as Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. Despite a championship drought since the mid-1990s, the Cowboys remain one of the most valuable and influential sports franchises in the world, consistently generating significant media coverage and public interest.

1952: Folding of the Dallas Texans

In 1952, the Dallas Texans professional football franchise ceased operations after completing only one season, leaving the region without an NFL team for years to come.

1958: Clint Murchison's Attempted Purchase of the Washington Redskins

In 1958, Clint Murchison attempted to buy the Washington Redskins from George Preston Marshall with the intention of relocating the team to Dallas. The deal ultimately collapsed when Marshall demanded a change in terms at the last minute, leading to a permanent rift that initially blocked Murchison's efforts to bring an NFL franchise to Dallas.

1959: The Founding of the Dallas Cowboys Franchise

In 1959, Clint Murchison secured the rights to the song "Hail to the Redskins" to leverage a vote from George Marshall for a new NFL franchise. Following the negotiation and the successful acquisition of the franchise, Murchison hired key leadership personnel, including Tex Schramm, Gil Brandt, and Tom Landry, who would go on to manage the Dallas Cowboys for the next thirty years.

1959: Murchison Purchases Hail to the Redskins

In 1959, following a dispute between Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall and band leader Barnee Breeskin, Breeskin sold the rights to the fight song Hail to the Redskins to Clint Murchison's attorney for $2,500 prior to the NFL expansion vote.

1960: Dallas Cowboys join the NFL

In 1960, the Dallas Cowboys officially joined the National Football League as an expansion team.

1965: Dallas Cowboys Reach .500 Record

In 1965, the Dallas Cowboys finally achieved a .500 winning percentage for the first time in the franchise's history under the guidance of coach Tom Landry.

1966: Start of 20 Consecutive Winning Seasons

In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys initiated an unprecedented run of 20 consecutive winning seasons, a streak that would last until 1985.

1966: First Eastern Conference Title

The Dallas Cowboys secured their first Eastern Conference title in 1966, marking a significant breakthrough for the team, though they ultimately lost the NFL Championship Game to the Green Bay Packers that same year.

1967: Ice Bowl Championship Loss

During the 1967 season, the Cowboys won their second consecutive Eastern Conference title but were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the infamous Ice Bowl NFL Championship Game.

1968: Division Title Win

Following the NFL's adoption of a divisional format, the Dallas Cowboys captured their first consecutive division title in 1968, though their postseason run ended with a loss to the Cleveland Browns.

1969: Consecutive Division Title

In 1969, the Dallas Cowboys earned their second consecutive division title under the new NFL format but were once again eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Browns.

1970: Dallas Cowboys 1970 Season and Super Bowl V Appearance

During the 1970 season, the Dallas Cowboys, led by quarterback Craig Morton, finished with a 10–4 record. They secured a victory against Detroit in the NFL's lowest-scoring playoff game ever and won the inaugural NFC Championship Game against San Francisco. In 1970, the team advanced to their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl V, where they were narrowly defeated 16–13 by the Baltimore Colts following a last-second field goal. Despite the loss, linebacker Chuck Howley was honored as the game's MVP, marking the only instance in history a player from a losing team received the award.

1970: Beginning of a Dominant Decade

Starting in 1970, the Dallas Cowboys began a decade of dominance that would see them achieve unprecedented success in the NFL.

1971: Dallas Cowboys Move to Texas Stadium and Win Super Bowl VI

During the 1971 season, the Dallas Cowboys transitioned from the Cotton Bowl to Texas Stadium. After coach Tom Landry promoted Roger Staubach to starting quarterback mid-season, the team went on a seven-game winning streak. This momentum led them to a victory over the Miami Dolphins with a score of 24-3 in Super Bowl VI, an event held in 1971 that earned Staubach MVP honors and helped the team overcome their reputation as perennial runners-up.

1971: Super Bowl VI Victory

In 1971, the Dallas Cowboys achieved a major milestone by winning their first Super Bowl title of the decade.

1974: Missed Playoff Season

During their 20-year winning streak, the Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs for the first time in 1974.

1974: Dallas Cowboys 1974 Season

In 1974, the Dallas Cowboys experienced a challenging year as the team failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs, prompting a focus on improving the roster through the draft.

1975: Dallas Cowboys 1975 Playoff Run and Super Bowl X

During the 1975 season, the Dallas Cowboys successfully returned to the playoffs as a wild card team following the addition of key talent like Randy White and Thomas Henderson, ultimately facing a 21–17 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X.

1977: Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XII Victory

During the 1977 season, the Dallas Cowboys achieved a 12-2 record and secured a victory in Super Bowl XII by defeating the Denver Broncos 27-10 in New Orleans. This achievement was highlighted by defensive linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin being named co-Super Bowl MVPs.

1977: Super Bowl XII Victory

The Dallas Cowboys successfully captured another championship title in 1977, marking their second Super Bowl victory during the 1970s.

1978: America's Team Nickname Origins

Following the Dallas Cowboys' 35-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl after the 1978 season, NFL Films editor Bob Ryan coined the nickname America's Team, a moniker that has persisted despite mixed reactions from the public.

1979: Conclusion of a Decade of NFL Dominance

By the end of 1979, the Dallas Cowboys had solidified their legacy by winning 105 regular season games throughout the decade, a feat unmatched by any other NFL franchise during that time span.

1980: Quarterback Transition and 1980 Season

In 1980, Danny White took over as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys following the retirement of Roger Staubach. The team finished the season 12-4 and reached the NFC Championship game, where they were defeated 20-7 by the Philadelphia Eagles.

1981: 1981 Dallas Cowboys Division Championship

In 1981, the Dallas Cowboys secured another division championship and entered the 1981–82 NFL playoffs as the number two seed. Their postseason journey included a dominant 38–0 shutout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though their season ultimately concluded in the NFC Championship Game with a narrow 28–27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers following a late game-winning drive by Joe Montana.

1982: 1982 Dallas Cowboys NFL Season

During the strike-shortened 1982 season, the Dallas Cowboys achieved a 6–3 record and qualified for the playoffs for the eighth straight year. After defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers in the early rounds of the 1982–83 NFL playoffs, the team reached their third consecutive conference championship game, where they were defeated 31–17 by the Washington Redskins in 1982.

1982: 1982 NFC Championship Loss

In 1982, the Dallas Cowboys suffered a loss in the NFC title game, an event that retrospectively signaled the conclusion of a significant era for the franchise.

1983: 1983 Season Playoff Exit

During the 1983 season, the Cowboys finished with a 12–4 record but were defeated 24–17 by the Los Angeles Rams in a Wild Card home game, following a critical late-season loss to Washington that cost them the NFC East title.

1984: Second Missed Playoff Appearance

In 1984, the Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs for the second and final time during their historic 20-season stretch of winning records.

1984: Ownership Transition and Missed Playoffs

Prior to the start of the 1984 season, team owner Murchison sold the Dallas Cowboys to H.R. "Bum" Bright and his partners; the team subsequently finished 9–7 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

1985: 1985 Divisional Round Shutout

In 1985, after securing a 10–6 record and a division title, the Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from the postseason following a 20–0 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles during the Divisional round.

1985: End of 20 Consecutive Winning Seasons

The year 1985 marked the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys' record-setting 20-season streak of winning seasons which began back in 1966.

1986: 1986 Dallas Cowboys Season

During the 1986 season, the Dallas Cowboys faced a period of decline, finishing the year with a record of 7–9.

1987: 1987 Dallas Cowboys Season and Front Office Tension

Throughout the 1987 season, the Dallas Cowboys struggled with a 7–8 record, and owner H.R. Bright publicly expressed his frustration with coach Tom Landry's play calling following a home loss to Atlanta.

1988: 1988 Dallas Cowboys Season

The Dallas Cowboys experienced a difficult 1988 season, finishing with a poor record of 3–13.

February 25, 1989: Sale of the Dallas Cowboys to Jerry Jones

On February 25, 1989, due to financial pressures from the savings and loan crisis, H.R. Bright sold the Dallas Cowboys franchise to Jerry Jones for $150 million.

1989: Dallas Cowboys Rebuilding Year and The Trade

In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys underwent a massive transition by firing Tom Landry and hiring Jimmy Johnson as head coach. The team also selected Troy Aikman with the first pick in the draft and executed a massive trade sending Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. Despite finishing the 1989 season with a 1-15 record, this pivotal year provided the assets needed for future team rebuilding.

2002: Beginning of the Sellout Streak

Starting in 2002, the Dallas Cowboys began a historic streak of 190 consecutive sold-out regular and postseason games, both home and away.

2009: Opening of AT&T Stadium

In 2009, the Dallas Cowboys began playing their home games at their newly opened stadium located in Arlington, Texas.

2013: Stadium Rebranding to AT&T Stadium

Prior to the 2013 season, the Dallas Cowboys officially renamed their home venue to AT&T Stadium after selling the naming rights to the telecommunications company AT&T.

2014: Record-Breaking Revenue Generation

In 2014, the Dallas Cowboys set a new benchmark for U.S. sports teams by generating $620 million in revenue.

2015: Dallas Cowboys Valued at $4 Billion

In 2015, the Dallas Cowboys made history by becoming the first sports franchise in the world to reach a $4 billion valuation according to Forbes rankings.

2016: Maintaining Status as Most Valuable Team

During 2016, the Dallas Cowboys retained their title as the most valuable sports team in the world, maintaining a valuation of $4 billion, a trajectory that eventually led them to become the first team to hit a $10 billion valuation.

2018: First NFL Franchise to Reach $5 Billion

In 2018, the Dallas Cowboys became the first NFL team to be valued at $5 billion and secured their position as the most valued NFL franchise on the Forbes list for the 12th consecutive year.

2025: Cowboys Valuation Reaches $13 Billion

As of late 2025, the financial growth of the Dallas Cowboys continued, with the franchise reaching an estimated valuation of approximately $13 billion.