The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for another reset after parting ways with head coach Mike McCarthy last week.
While that’s something team owner Jerry Jones has done many times in the past, he still hasn’t been able to get back to the Super Bowl, let alone an NFC title game, in nearly three decades, despite having – at least on paper – having teams at his disposal that are capable of doing so.
Now he’s watching two recent assistants, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, face off in the NFC title game for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Commanders’ ascension to the conference title game made the Cowboys the franchise with the longest NFC title game drought, dating back to the 1995 season.
Brian Schottenheimer has become the betting favorite to earn the job. Here’s a look at the latest in coaching news for the Cowboys.
As Dallas’ coaching search continues, here’s a look back at some of the Cowboys’ best seasons, worst seasons and brutal finishes in the 29 years since their victory in Super Bowl XXX.
Last Cowboys Super Bowl win: 1995 season
File: 12-4
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Super Bowl
The Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, marking their third championship in four years under the Triplets of quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin. They haven’t been to the Super Bowl, or even the NFC championship game, since.
Best seasons
1996
File: 10-6
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Divisional round
Following their Super Bowl victory, Aikman and Smith returned the Cowboys to the playoffs for a sixth straight campaign after romping through the NFC East. They defeated the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs before being eliminated by the Panthers in the next round.
This undoubtedly marked the end of their dynasty, although these Cowboys still had a good final run.
2007
File: 13-3
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Divisional round
After their 2006 finish (we’ll get to that), the Cowboys responded the following season by claiming their first NFC East title in nearly a decade. They racked up thirteen wins, something the team hadn’t seen since 1992 under first-year head coach Wade Phillips, and claimed the top seed in the NFC.
But the Cowboys fell in the divisional round to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. This was a great Cowboys season that resulted in nothing come playoff time.
2016
File: 13-3
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Divisional round
After losing Tony Romo to injury the year before, Dak Prescott stepped in during his rookie season and led the Cowboys to their best finish in nearly a decade. They earned the No. 1 title in the NFC and their second NFC East title in three years. But Aaron Rodgers made the Cowboys shorten their season in the playoffs.
Worst seasons
2000-2002
File: 5-11, 5-11, 5-11
NFC East Finish: 4th, 5th, 4th
Playoffs: No
We lumped these three seasons together because of how shockingly similar they were and how disappointing they were. The Cowboys went 5-11 in three straight campaigns under head coach Dave Campo, who was fired after the 2002 season. They didn’t make the playoffs once and struggled to find their footing at the end of the Aikman era in Dallas. It was a whole lot of nothing.
As far as bad stretches for the Cowboys go, this one is at the top.
2015
File: 4-12
NFC East Finish: 4th
Playoffs: No
A lot went wrong during this campaign. The Cowboys only won four games all season, which was their lowest win total since the 1989 season when they went 1-15. They even started 2-0 with division wins, which made the finish even worse. Romo went down in the second game of the season with a broken collarbone, star wide receiver Dez Bryant dealt with a broken foot and everything spiraled from there.
2024
File: 7-10
NFC East Finish: 3rd
Playoffs: No
There may be some degree of recency here, but last season was one of the worst for the Cowboys in recent decades. They lost Prescott to a season-ending injury, missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season and suffered multiple losses during the campaign. Oh, and it resulted in them parting ways with McCarthy. Not great.
Most disappointing finishes
2006
File: 9-7
NFC East Finish: 2nd
Playoffs: Wildcard round
Nothing about this season, the last under head coach Bill Parcells, was all that special. But a brutal loss in the playoffs makes it stand out.
With about 80 seconds left in their wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks, Romo came out for a 19-yard field goal attempt that would have put Dallas ahead. Romo, who took over as the team’s starter that season, still kept his job all season. But Romo fumbled the snap.
Instead of heading into the backfield, Romo somehow scooped up the fumble and turned outside to find what looked like a clear path to the end zone. At the last second he was taken down inches short of a first down. Romo’s hand was left bloodied after being stepped on.
It’s unclear how far this Cowboys team was able to get in the postseason that year, but the finish was undoubtedly heartbreaking.
January 6, 2007: Holder Tony Romo botches a game-winning 21-yard FG attempt with just over a minute remaining and Seattle came away with a 21-20 win in a Wild Card game. pic.twitter.com/xUfAomQjFo
— This day in sports clips (@TDISportsClips) January 6, 2022
2014
File: 12-4
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Divisional round
This Romo-led Cowboys team was great. They reached the play-offs for the first time in the decade. But the finish at Lambeau Field is the highlight the season will be remembered for.
Near the end of their divisional round playoff game, Romo threw a deep pass to Dez Bryant that appeared to be caught, but was later reversed on replay. The play would have put the Cowboys in position to score and take the lead late. Instead, the Packers ultimately won and the “Dez Caught It” lore was born. This piece sparked a debate for years about what a catch actually is in the NFL.
2021
File: 12-5
NFC East Finish: 1st
Playoffs: Wildcard round
After a few down seasons, including the first under McCarthy, the Cowboys burst onto the scene in 2021 with the trio of Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb. They won their first NFC East title since the 2018 season and hosted a home playoff game. Despite going 6-0 against their division and winning five of their last six games, the Cowboys fell flat in the playoffs.
After nearly leading Dallas on a game-winning drive, Prescott scrambled to the middle of the field and slid to give himself up. Despite putting the Cowboys in great field position, he ultimately didn’t have enough time to make another play. While this isn’t as rough as the other two on this list, it was another example of the Cowboys coming up short in clutch time.