NFL · NFC East · Dallas, Texas, US · AT&T Stadium
They are America's Team—a cultural institution whose star transcends the sport, whose five Lombardi Trophies gleam beside a playoff drought that stretches back to the mid-1990s. The talent is always there, the brand is unmatched, and the championship remains the only thing that keeps slipping away.
Updated March 21, 2026
Brian Schottenheimer's first season as head coach produced a 7-9-1 record, including a rare tie, as Dallas missed the playoffs for the second straight year. The former offensive coordinator was promoted after Mike McCarthy's departure, but the results were largely unchanged. The Cowboys finished second in the NFC East behind the Eagles but were never seriously in contention.
Dak Prescott's massive contract continued to be a double-edged sword as the Cowboys' cap situation limited their ability to upgrade the roster around him. Prescott played reasonably well individually but could not elevate a flawed supporting cast. Jerry Jones faces difficult decisions about the franchise's direction with Prescott's deal consuming so much cap space.
CeeDee Lamb put up another elite season, but the star receiver has been increasingly vocal about his frustration with the team's lack of postseason success. At 27, Lamb is in his prime and wants to win now, creating tension with a franchise that may need to retool.