Little Known or Under-appreciated Cowboys Facts

[Bobhaze]

Facts are stubborn things as the old saying goes. Sometimes they align with what we perceive to be true and other times they go against our perceptions of truth. That’s especially true on a sports opinion forum.

Below are some little known or under-appreciated facts (at least to me) about the Cowboys as a team and also about some of their players and coaches, the first category being from the older days:

• Our two first ALL PRO players were- RB Don Perkins and LB Jerry Tubbs, both in 1962
  
• From 1960-66, the Cowboys played in what was known as the “Eastern Conference” because there were no divisions then. From 1967-69, the Cowboys were in a division known as the “Capital division“. There was no “NFC East” until the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
• In 60 seasons, (1960-2019) the Cowboys have made the playoffs 33 times. But what’s enlightening is this stat: From the 29 seasons of the “Landry Era”, (1960-88) we made the playoffs 18 times. In the 31 years of “Jones Era” (1989-2019), we made the playoffs 15 times.
• The great Bob Hayes averaged 20.1 yards per catch for his entire career!
  
• Both Drew Pearson and Tony Hill retired with more receiving yards than Dez Bryant.
• Roger Staubach was 12-6 in the playoffs. Troy Aikman was 11-5. Danny White was 5-5. That’s 23 of the teams 35 playoff wins. All other Cowboys QBs combined in the playoffs are 7-12.

Second category of interesting facts from the more recent years:

• Currently the Cowboys franchise is worth over $5 billion and over $1 billion more than the second most valuable NFL franchise, the pats. (Frankly I don’t care about this but it is interesting)
• In the “Jerry Era” (1989-2019 and counting), the Cowboys have missed the playoffs 16 seasons. In the “Landry Era” (1960-88), we missed the playoffs 11 times, 6 of them in their first 6 seasons.
• Emmitt Smith has more total TDs (164) than Bob Hayes and Dez Bryant combined (151)
• Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin had the most successful NFL RB-WR year in NFL history in 1995. Smith and Irvin became the first and only wide receiver/running back duo to each amass 1,600+ yards in a single season.
  
• Dak Prescott is 5th in all time NFL history in TD-Int ratio- 95 TDs, 36 INTs.(Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Tom Brady are #s 1,2 and 3)
  
• Jeff Heath ran a 4.4 forty yard dash.
  
• Travis Frederick was an all state wrestler in high school and also wrestled in college.
• Tony Romo’s grandfather was an immigrant from Mexico.
  
• Dak Prescott has a Master's Degree in Workforce Leadership.
• The last time the Cowboys won a divisional playoff game, Tony Romo was a sophomore in high school.

This could go on....what are some other Cowboys facts you find interesting?

 

[Zordon]

That Bob Hayes fact is pretty insane.

 

[Bobhaze]

That Bob Hayes fact is pretty insane.

Isn’t it? Averaging 20 yards per reception in an 11 year NFL career. And during an era where the passing game took a back seat to the running game.

 

[Jake]

The Cowboys are 0-10 in postseason games when the opponent scores 30 or more points. The first playoff game in franchise history was a 34-27 loss to Green Bay.

The Cowboys are 29-5 in postseason games when the opponent scores 20 or less points. One of those 5 losses came in the Cowboys first Super Bowl. It still stings.

 

[Paradox]

Nate Newton got arrested with 213 lbs. of marijuana in the van he was in. A week later while out on bail, he was arrested with 175 lbs. of marijuana in his trunk.

Hollywood Henderson won the Texas lottery twice.

 

[Williamsboys]

I would like to Add to a few you already listed.
1)Dak Prescott is 5th in all time NFL history in TD-Int ratio..95TD's-36 INT's ..Rodgers, Wilson and Brady are 1, 2, 3 ..Who's Fourth??
2)Jeff Heath ran a 4.4 40 yard dash...His mom had the stop watch while a dog was chasing him.
3) Dak Prescott has a Master's Degree in Workforce Leadership...You sure it isn't in acCOUNTING??

 

[Bobhaze]

The Cowboys are 0-10 in postseason games when the opponent scores 30 or more points. The first playoff game in franchise history was a 34-27 loss to Green Bay.

The Cowboys are 29-5 in postseason games when the opponent scores 20 or less points. One of those 5 losses came in the Cowboys first Super Bowl. It still stings.

That is an underrated fact!

 

[Diehardblues]

20 consecutive winning seasons 1966-1985

12 Conference championship games in 17 years
66,67, 70,71,72,73,75,77,78,80,81,82

7 Conference Championship games in a decade
70,71,72,73,75,77,78

5 Super Bowls in a decade- 70,71,75,77,78

 

[TwoCentPlain]

1) Jim Doran caught a 75 yd TD pass from Eddie LaBaron for the first ever Cowboy TD against the Stealers in the 1st quarter on 24 SEP 1960 (courtesy of profootbalreference). Wonder if there is video of that somewhere?

2) The player drafted right after Bob Hayes was none other than Bill Parcells by the Detroit Lions. That 1964 draft also saw the Cowboys pick Staubach in the 10th round. There were a total of 10 players (quick count so might be wrong) who made the HOF from that draft class. The Cowboys had three - Renfro (2nd round), Hayes (6th round), and Staubach (10th round). Parcells made it to the HOF as a coach. Right after the Cowboys chose Renfor in the 2nd round, the Skins hose Paul Krause. Krause was traded to the Vikings 4 years later for some LB and a 7th round pick. Renfro or Krause? Which would have been the better pick?

 

[Diehardblues]

Longest run from scrimmage
Tony Dorsett - 99 yards

 

[Diehardblues]

Chuck Howley

Only Super Bowl MVP on a losing team

 

[Diehardblues]

Greatest Cowboys comeback in a playoff game

18 points in win over 49ers 30-28 in 1972

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys were the first expansion team in the NFL. While other teams came from the AFL and other leagues, the Cowboys were the first true born expansion team.

 

[Pantone282C]

Isn’t it? Averaging 20 yards per reception in an 11 year NFL career. And during an era where the passing game took a back seat to the running game.

He is one of my all time Cowboys favs. Sure was cool to watch Bullet Bob Hayes, the "worlds fastest human," run under and catch all those bombs from Dandy Don Meredith!

 

[Diehardblues]

The Cowboys are 0-10 in postseason games when the opponent scores 30 or more points. The first playoff game in franchise history was a 34-27 loss to Green Bay.

The Cowboys are 29-5 in postseason games when the opponent scores 20 or less points. One of those 5 losses came in the Cowboys first Super Bowl. It still stings.

Landry told Lilly that if we can hold our opponent to 17 points or less we’d win over 90% of the games.

And those 16 points the Colts scored in SB V victory were third lowest winning total in SB history.

Patriots 13
Washington 14
NYJ, Balt, Pitt 16
NYG 17

Only teams in SB history to win with less than 20 pts

 

[buybuydandavis]

• Currently the Cowboys franchise is worth over $5 billion and over $1 billion more than the second most valuable NFL franchise, the pats. (Frankly I don’t care about this but it is interesting)

This could go on....what are some other Cowboys facts you find interesting?

Most valuable sports franchise *in the world*.

Jerry wins the World Bowl of sports entertainment owners year after year. People calling him a moron should remember that.

 

[Bobhaze]

Most valuable sports franchise *in the world*.

Jerry wins the World Bowl of sports entertainment owners year after year. People calling him a moron should remember that.

No doubt Jerry is a business genius. It’s his gift and he deserves credit for it. Unfortunately, football management is not one of his strengths.

 

[Bobhaze]

Greatest Cowboys comeback in a playoff game

18 points in win over 49ers 30-28 in 1972

Greggo, do you remember after Roger threw the winning TD in the last seconds, seeing LarryCole rolling around the ground in absolute joy. It was hilarious!

 

[GMO415]

Bullet is so cerebral. Bro needs his own podcast

 

[rags747]

Facts are stubborn things as the old saying goes. Sometimes they align with what we perceive to be true and other times they go against our perceptions of truth. That’s especially true on a sports opinion forum.

Below are some little known or under-appreciated facts (at least to me) about the Cowboys as a team and also about some of their players and coaches, the first category being from the older days:

• Our two first ALL PRO players were- RB Don Perkins and LB Jerry Tubbs, both in 1962
  
• From 1960-66, the Cowboys played in what was known as the “Eastern Conference” because there were no divisions then. From 1967-69, the Cowboys were in a division known as the “Capital division“. There was no “NFC East” until the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
• In 60 seasons, (1960-2019) the Cowboys have made the playoffs 33 times. But what’s enlightening is this stat: From the 29 seasons of the “Landry Era”, (1960-88) we made the playoffs 18 times. In the 31 years of “Jones Era” (1989-2019), we made the playoffs 15 times.
• The great Bob Hayes averaged 20.1 yards per catch for his entire career!
  
• Both Drew Pearson and Tony Hill retired with more receiving yards than Dez Bryant.
• Roger Staubach was 12-6 in the playoffs. Troy Aikman was 11-5. Danny White was 5-5. That’s 23 of the teams 35 playoff wins. All other Cowboys QBs combined in the playoffs are 7-12.

Second category of interesting facts from the more recent years:

• Currently the Cowboys franchise is worth over $5 billion and over $1 billion more than the second most valuable NFL franchise, the pats. (Frankly I don’t care about this but it is interesting)
• In the “Jerry Era” (1989-2019 and counting), the Cowboys have missed the playoffs 16 seasons. In the “Landry Era” (1960-88), we missed the playoffs 11 times, 6 of them in their first 6 seasons.
• Emmitt Smith has more total TDs (164) than Bob Hayes and Dez Bryant combined (151)
• Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin had the most successful NFL RB-WR year in NFL history in 1995. Smith and Irvin became the first and only wide receiver/running back duo to each amass 1,600+ yards in a single season.
  
• Dak Prescott is 5th in all time NFL history in TD-Int ratio- 95 TDs, 36 INTs.(Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Tom Brady are #s 1,2 and 3)
  
• Jeff Heath ran a 4.4 forty yard dash.
  
• Travis Frederick was an all state wrestler in high school and also wrestled in college.
• Tony Romo’s grandfather was an immigrant from Mexico.
  
• Dak Prescott has a Master's Degree in Workforce Leadership.
• The last time the Cowboys won a divisional playoff game, Tony Romo was a sophomore in high school.

This could go on....what are some other Cowboys facts you find interesting?

$5 BILLION, That’s Fantastic...Bravo Jerry!