The Dallas Cowboys franchise was founded in 1960 by Clint
Murchison, Jr. and Bedford Wynne. From the very beginning, the creation of the
franchise was met with stiff resistance by George Preston Marshall, then owner
of the Washington Redskins. Nevertheless, the Cowboys began play by the start of
the 1960 season.
After the difficulties of creating the franchise, more woes
followed once the team got onto the field, as the Cowboys finished 1960 with an
0-11-1 record. The following season saw the setting of the stage for the
Cowboys' later successes. With a foundation of defensive tackle Bob Lilly,
quarterback Don Meredith, linebackers Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan,
cornerback Mel Renfro, and wide receiver Bob Hayes, Dallas improved and by 1966
made its first playoff appearance. In 1966 and 1967, the Cowboys advanced as far
as the NFL Championship game, but both times lost close games to the Green Bay
Packers.
By the late 1960s, the Cowboys had begun adding more pieces
to the team; pieces that would lead to the team's first Super Bowl championship
in 1971 against the Miami Dolphins. Among the key players that guided the
Cowboys during these years were quarterback Roger Staubach, offensive tackle
Rayfield Wright, tight end Mike Ditka, cornerback Herb Adderley, and safeties
Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters.
The Cowboys' next Super Bowl championship came in 1977, where
they defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10. The Cowboys also appeared in Super Bowls
X and XIII, both times losing close games to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Key
players included running back Tony Dorsett, defensive tackle Randy White,
defensive ends Harvey Martin and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and wide receiver Drew
Pearson.
Although the 1980s started off with consecutive playoff
appearances, in 1986 the Cowboys suffered their first losing season in twenty
years. The team got progressively worse, including a 1-15 record in 1989.
Despite the abysmal record, the 1989 Cowboys had put in place the pieces that
would return them to winning. Head coach Jimmy Johnson and quarterback Troy
Aikman were new additions for the 1989 season. Other players added throughout
the late 1980s and early 1990s were running back Emmitt Smith, wide receiver
Michael Irvin, offensive linemen Mark Stepnoski, Erik Williams and Mark Tuinei,
safety Darren Woodson, defensive end Charles Haley and defensive tackle Russell
Maryland.
With this nucleus of players, Dallas returned to the Super
Bowl in 1993 for the first time in 14 years. The Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII
52-17 over the Buffalo Bills. The team repeated as Super Bowl champions the
following year with a 30-13 victory over the Bills.
Following the victory, coach Johnson announced his
resignation. Owner Jerry Jones then hired Barry Switzer as his replacement.
Although the Cowboys didn't return to the Super Bowl that year, they did the
year after. In Super Bowl XXX, the Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
27-17 for their fifth Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl Appearances:
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1971 (V): Lost 16-13 to the Baltimore Colts
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1972 (VI): Won 24-3 over the Miami Dolphins
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1976 (X): Lost 21-17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers
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1978 (XII): Won 27-10 over the Denver Broncos
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1979 (XIII): Lost 35-31 to the Pittsburgh Steelers
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1993 (XXVII): Won 52-17 over the Buffalo Bills
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1994 (XXVIII): Won 30-13 over the Buffalo Bills
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1996 (XXX): Won 27-17 over the Pittsburgh Steelers
Hall of Famers:
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Troy Aikman, quarterback (1989-2000)
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Tony Dorsett, running back (1977-87)
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Michael Irvin, wide receiver (1988-1999)
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Tom Landry, head coach (1960-88)
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Bob Lilly, defensive tackle (1961-74)
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Mel Renfro, cornerback (1964-77)
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Tex Schramm, general manager (1960-89)
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Roger Staubach, quarterback (1969-79)
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Randy White, defensive tackle (1975-88)
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Rayfield Wright, offensive tackle (1967-1979)
The design of the Dallas Cowboys NFL Fabric: White is
composed of the Cowboys’ star logo over a white background.
The Dallas Cowboys NFL Fabric: White is a great cotton fabric
to use for quilts, shirts, jackets, jacket linings, carrying bags, bed sheets,
bedspreads, hats, pet clothing and more.