The Dallas Cowboys are a historic franchise with a rich championship history. Since their inception in 1960, the Cowboys have taken home five Super Bowl titles.
The Cowboys’ history of excellence has earned them the moniker “America’s Team,” and while they haven’t won an NFL title in almost 30 years, that reputation and prestige still hold strong today.
Who Are the Greatest Teams in Dallas Cowboys’ History?
When you win the ultimate prize in any sport, those years are going to be cherished forever. Such is the case for the Cowboys and their five Super Bowl titles, setting up an easy exercise when it comes to picking the top five best seasons in their history.
However, which championship reigns supreme? From the dynasty of the 90s to the dominant teams of the 70s, we do our best to rank the five best teams in Cowboys history.
5) 1971 Cowboys
Nothing says memories like your first one. And in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, their 1971 team was the first team in franchise history to take home the ever-coveted Lombardi Trophy. In just their 12th season, the Cowboys finished the year 11-3 before going on to defeat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl 6 to capture their first title as members of the NFL.
Quarterback Roger Staubach finished the regular season as the NFL’s top-rated passer, throwing for 1,882 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, while Staubach was the QB running the show, it was a trio of running backs that was the engine that made the offense go. The group consisted of Walt Garrison, Duane Thomas, and Calvin Hill, all of whom combined for 1,690 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
And while the offense was tremendous in its own right, you cannot tell the story of this team without mentioning the “Doomsday Defense” led by Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, and Mel Renfro, who, as a group, only allowed one touchdown in the last 25 quarters leading up to their Super Bowl win.
It was the sixth consecutive season that the Cowboys finished in first place in their conference, and they made their second consecutive NFC Championship Game appearance before taking home the ultimate prize. They led the league with 406 points scored, while their defense allowed 222 points, setting the stage for a truly dominant season.
4) 1995 Cowboys
In the franchise’s 35th season, led by head coach Barry Switzer, the Cowboys cemented their dynasty status with their third Super Bowl title in the decade. It was the last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl — or even made it to an NFC Championship Game — and from then on, it has been a constant pursuit to find the success this team once had.
The team finished 12-4 on the season en route to a division title, capped off by Switzer and the ‘Boys capturing their fifth Super Bowl title by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17 in Super Bowl 30.
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On the offensive side of the ball, the group was led by well-known future Hall of Famers: quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin. On the defense, edge rusher Charles Haley, cornerback Deion Sanders, and defensive tackle Leon Lett led the group and played massive roles in the season.
This group is special because it was the last time in over a quarter century that Cowboys Nation saw a championship. After a time when it felt as though they would compete for a title every season, it has been anything but for the franchise since the end of this 1995 season.
3) 1993 Cowboys
The 1993 season was the second consecutive Super Bowl title under Jimmy Johnson and the year that let everybody know that the Cowboys very well could be the team of the decade. Led by many of the same cast of players that helped them win their third in 1995, this year’s unit was coached under Johnson, as he led the team he built to back-to-back titles.
The team finished the regular season 12-4, won a division title, and capped off the year with a dominant victory in Super Bowl 28 over the Buffalo Bills 30-13. Beyond being a season and team the fanbase remembers fondly, the 1993 season ranked No. 23 on the 100 greatest teams of all time, presented by the NFL as part of its 100th-anniversary rankings.
What stops this season from entering the top two is Johnson’s departure following the season, which the franchise has tried to recover from since. Although the team won another title with Switzer two years later, it is largely viewed as one won with Johnson’s players, and the team has struggled to find sustained success since his departure.
2) 1977 Cowboys
Another season fondly remembered around the league, the 1977 season, comes in at No. 17 on the NFL’s top 100 greatest teams list. Under head coach Tom Landry, the Dallas Cowboys won their second Super Bowl title against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 12, 27-10.
Led by workhorse running back Tony Dorsett, the Cowboys were dominant on the ground and still had that feared “Doomsday Defense” leading the charge. Their 15–2 record, including the regular season and postseason, remains the highest single-season winning percentage in franchise history.
That year, they became the fourth team in NFL history to win two Super Bowls, joining the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and Steelers as the only teams to do so at the time. The groundwork laid by these teams in the 1970s and their tremendous success led to the Cowboys’ global popularity, which they still have to this day.
1) 1992 Cowboys
Coming in at No. 1 on our list and No. 6 on the NFL’s top 100 greatest teams list, the 1992 season is not only one of the best in franchise history but maybe even in the history of the NFL. Led by a potent offense and the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense, the youngest team in NFL history at the time posted a franchise-best 13–3 record throughout the regular season on its way to a third championship and the first of the 90s.
The Cowboys dismantled the Bills in Super Bowl 27, 52-17. The game was never in doubt, and with a roster led by Aikman, Smith, Irvin, tight end Jay Novacek, offensive lineman Nate Newton, and many others, this Cowboys team made a statement heard across the league that they were here to stay.
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Not only was the offense dynamic, but the defensive group, coined “Doomsday II,” was only the third team since 1980 to hold offenses to fewer than 4,000 yards in a 16-game season.
The defense finished first in the NFL in total defense (245.8 yards per game), while the secondary finished the year fifth in passing defense (168.1), proving once more that this was not only one of the best seasons but the best teams the Cowboys have ever had.