The new Netflix docuseries “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” brought back memories of when the Dallas Cowboys were the NFL’s gold standard. As a New York Giants fan, I watched those episodes with a mix of respect and curiosity.
The series premiered on Aug. 19, and digs into owner Jerry Jones, the bold coaching change from Tom Landry to Jimmy Johnson and the run that produced three Super Bowls in four seasons with interviews from key people involved with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s and beyond.
The 1990s Cowboys were dominant, and the results were historic. Dallas won Super Bowls in the 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1995-96 seasons, beating the Buffalo Bills twice and then the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Hall-of-Famers everywhere on the field and the sideline.
Jones, who bought the team in 1989 for roughly $140 million, was praised as a bold risk-taker after pulling off the Herschel Walker trade that powered the dynasty, behind the likes of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and a defense anchored by Charles Haley and Deion Sanders.
Those years set a standard that Dallas has not come close to matching since. The Cowboys, since their NFC Championship game win over Green Bay on Jan. 14, 1996, have not returned to a conference championship.
Every other NFC team has made one this century. For a franchise that calls itself “America’s Team,” that drought is concerning.
After Johnson left following back-to-back championships, coach Barry Switzer won one more Super Bowl in 1995-96. Then came decades of inconsistency.
Coaches came and went. Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and now Mike McCarthy’s replacement, Brian Schottenheimer all took their turns; however, none of them delivered a deep playoff run.
The front office has been the constant. Jones is not only the owner, but the president and general manager, a system he defends in the series and in interviews. He wants the responsibility and the scrutiny, and he has held the GM role since day one.
That structure worked in the early 1990s, but it has also created blind spots.
Jones has frequently overlooked his own executives and coaches, due to his hands-on approach, and his decisions have shaped the Cowboys’ modern identity: a team that spends big, markets bigger, but falls short in January.
Dallas has not been shy about paying stars. In 2024, Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million extension with $231 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
His cap hit for 2025 is over $50 million, and it will climb in future seasons. CeeDee Lamb followed with a four-year, $136 million deal that averages $34 million annually, second only to Justin Jefferson among receivers.
The Cowboys restructured both contracts this offseason to create cap space, but that only delays the financial strain.
Five players: Prescott, Lamb, Terence Steele, Trevon Diggs and Tyler Smith have accounted for more than 65% of the team’s cap. That imbalance forces Dallas to rely on bargain signings and draft picks to fill out the roster.
The most significant blow came this summer when Micah Parsons, the team’s best defensive player, forced his way out.
After two years of stalled negotiations, Parsons requested a trade. He wanted to reset the market for pass rushers, reportedly seeking more than $40 million per year. Jones offered a deal directly to Parsons without involving his agent, a move that violated standard protocol and proper contract talks.
The relationship collapsed, and Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Losing Parsons was more than a roster move; it was a statement about priorities. Jones admitted that Prescott’s contract played a role in the decision, saying the team could not afford to keep three players (Prescott, Lamb and Parsons) with top-of-the-market contracts.
Even with stars in place, the results have not changed. Since 1996, Dallas has had just five playoff wins. The team has been eliminated in the divisional round six times, most recently in 2022.
The pattern is the same every year: strong regular seasons, high expectations and early exits in the playoffs. For all the talk of being “all-in,” the Cowboys often play it safe in free agency and lean on internal development.
Jones insists he is still taking risks — he said just that at the premiere of the Netflix series, reflecting on the bold moves that built the dynasty.
But the modern Cowboys feel different. They are financially top-heavy, culturally tied to their owner’s personality and strategically cautious when it matters most.
The documentary reminded me why the 1990s Cowboys were special. They had talent, toughness and timing. Today’s Cowboys have talent and headlines, but not the results. Until that changes, the gap between past glory and present reality will define “America’s Team.”
