Franchise History

Since taking the field in 1960, the Dallas Cowboys have appeared in eight Super Bowls and captured five world championships. Their story, however, is about far more than trophies. It is the story of visionary leadership, legendary players, bold decisions, and defining moments that shaped one of the most successful franchises in professional sports.
Here you'll explore the people and events that built the Cowboys' legacy—from Tom Landry's remarkable run of 20 consecutive winning seasons and the fearsome Doomsday Defense to the 1990s dynasty engineered by Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson. Along the way, we'll revisit the front-office brilliance of Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt, examine the draft and personnel decisions that changed the course of the franchise, and take a closer look at unforgettable moments like the legendary Herschel Walker trade in our Cowboys Time Machine series.
Whether you're reliving cherished memories or discovering Cowboys history for the first time, The Doomsday Legacy is dedicated to preserving the stories behind the Silver and Blue—one chapter at a time.

Super Bowl XXVIII

Super Bowl XXVII

Super Bowl XXX

Super Bowl VI

Super Bowl XII

Championships & Milestones

Est. 1960 • 5 Super Bowl titles • 8 Super Bowl appearances. Dallas built its championship legacy in three eras: Tom Landry's Doomsday Defense teams won Super Bowl VI (1971 season) and Super Bowl XII (1977 season); the Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer dynasty of the 1990s added Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX. Along the way, the Cowboys set an NFL record with 20 consecutive winning seasons (1966-1985) and, rather than retiring jersey numbers, honor their greats through the Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium.

The Architects Behind the Organization

Tom Landry built the Cowboys on the field, but Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt helped build the organization around him. Together, they created one of professional football's most innovative front offices, combining Schramm's vision for the franchise with Brandt's relentless search for talent.

Dallas became an early adopter of computer-assisted scouting and developed an extensive network for evaluating college players across the country. Brandt looked far beyond the obvious prospects, searching small colleges, other sports and unconventional sources for players who might otherwise have escaped the NFL's attention. Schramm gave that approach the organizational support to flourish.

The results helped sustain one of the longest runs of success in NFL history. From 1966 through 1985, the Cowboys posted 20 consecutive winning seasons, reached five Super Bowls and won two championships. Behind Landry's teams was a personnel operation continually searching for the next player who could keep Dallas ahead of the league.

Schramm and Brandt didn't simply help assemble winning teams. They helped change how an NFL franchise found talent, organized information and planned for the future.
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The Partnership That Rebuilt the Cowboys

When Jerry Jones purchased the Cowboys in 1989, he immediately made one of the boldest decisions in franchise history, replacing Tom Landry with his former University of Arkansas teammate Jimmy Johnson. What followed was painful at first—a 1–15 season—but Jones and Johnson weren't interested in preserving what Dallas had been. They intended to build something new.

The rebuilding began with Troy Aikman, selected first overall in the 1989 NFL Draft, but the defining move came later that year when Dallas traded Herschel Walker to Minnesota. The enormous package of players and draft choices gave Johnson the flexibility to reshape the roster, contributing to the acquisition of key pieces including Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith and Darren Woodson.

Johnson brought an aggressive approach to personnel, competition and roster building, while Jones supplied the willingness—and resources—to remake the organization quickly. Within four seasons, the Cowboys went from the bottom of the NFL to consecutive Super Bowl championships, winning Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII.

Their partnership ultimately proved too combustible to last. Johnson left following the second championship, and Dallas later won Super Bowl XXX under Barry Switzer with many of the players assembled during the rebuilding years. But the foundation of the 1990s dynasty had been established during the remarkable five-year partnership between Jones and Johnson.

Together, they didn't simply rebuild the Dallas Cowboys. They built the team that returned the franchise to the top of professional football.