Dallas Super Bowl History

The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the most successful teams in all of professional sports, playing for multiple championships since their inception into the National Football League in 1960. Dallas has appeared in a total of eight Super Bowls, winning five of them and losing three. While their victories were all clear cut and lacked much drama, their three losses were all close games and left their fans heartbroken.

  1. Super Bowl V

    • On January 17th, 1971, Dallas met the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V in Miami, Florida--the first Super Bowl contested on artificial turf. Baltimore scored a fluke touchdown in the second quarter on a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas that wound up in the hands of tight end John Mackey, who rumbled 75 yards for the score. In a game of mistakes, with both teams turning the ball over frequently, Baltimore won on a last second field goal from 32 yards out by Jim O'Brien. The kick was necessary since he had missed the extra point on Mackey's score. Cowboy linebacker Chuck Howley was the game's Most Valuable Player despite playing on the losing side.

    Super Bowl VI

    • Almost a year to the day later, on January 16th, 1972, Dallas went into Tulane Stadium in New Orleans to battle the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Quarterback Roger Staubach tossed touchdown passes to Mike Ditka and Lance Alworth and the Dallas defense, designed by Coach Tom Landry, did the rest. The 24-3 outcome was never in doubt; Staubach only threw 18 passes as Dallas backs Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas controlled the ball on the ground.

    Super Bowl X

    • Dallas returned to the Orange Bowl on January 18th, 1976 to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Miami in Super Bowl X. Lynn Swann, the acrobatic Steeler wideout, was the difference as he caught four passes from Terry Bradshaw for 161 yards and one touchdown. Swann made a pair of highlight reel catches with Cowboy defenders draped all over him and Pittsburgh held on for a 21-17 win, with Swann named the MVP. Neither team could run the ball with overwhelming success, with Dallas relying mostly on Staubach, whose last minute desperation heave was intercepted.

    Super Bowl XII

    • Super Bowl XII took place in the New Orleans Superdome on January 15th, 1978 between Dallas and the upstart Denver Broncos. The Dallas defense harassed Denver into one miscue after another and ended the day causing eight turnovers. Denver quarterbacks Craig Morton and Norris Weese completed just eight passes between them. Staubach threw for a 45 yard score in the first quarter and Dallas took a 20-7 lead into the fourth quarter. An option pass from fullback Robert Newhouse to Golden Richards was the finishing touch on a 27-10 easy Cowboy triumph.

    Super Bowl XIII

    • A Cowboy-Steeler rematch took place in Miami on January 21st, 1979 with Pittsburgh winning a thriller by a 35-31 count. Three Bradshaw touchdown passes built a 35-17 lead for Pittsburgh, but the gallant Staubach rallied his team back with his scrambling style. A key play in the game came when Dallas tight end Jackie Smith dropped a sure touchdown from Staubach in the end zone late. Bradshaw's 318 yards passing garnered game MVP honors, but Staubach cemented his legacy as a never-say-die leader in the loss.

    Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII

    • These two Super Bowls, both against the Buffalo Bills, went to Dallas they routed their opponent with ease in the second half of each contest. The first one, held in Pasadena, California's Rose Bowl on January 31st, 1993, was an utter disaster for Buffalo, who allowed four touchdown passes from Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman. Buffalo tossed four interceptions to go with five lost fumbles and surrendered three fourth quarter touchdowns to Dallas as the Cowboys won 52-17. In Super Bowl XXVIII, held in Atlanta's Georgia Dome on January 30th, 1994, Dallas actually trailed 13-6 at the half but came back behind eventual game MVP Emmitt Smith's running. Smith finished with 132 yards on the ground and the Dallas defense stiffened in the second half for a 30-13 victory.

    Super Bowl XXX

    • Super Bowl XXX saw Dallas handily defeat the Steelers to gain some revenge for their losses 16 and 19 years prior. Held at Arizona's Tempe Stadium on January 28th, 1996 the Cowboy's Larry Brown, a defensive back, made two key interceptions against Pittsburgh to take home MVP accolades. Emmitt Smith's four-yard touchdown run in the last quarter broke open a 20-17 game and gave the Cowboys their final cushion. Brown's second interception ended any Steeler comeback dreams.