The Cowboys added three more pieces to their long-term success in the 1966 NFL Draft. Offensive guard John Niland was taken in the first round and started four games as a rookie.
Defensive tackle Willie Townes was taken in the second round, and moved to defensive end as a starter midway through his rookie season.
Though the NFL did not officially keep a record of sacks as an official stat at the time, the Cowboys did. Townes is credited with nine sacks in his rookie year.
Harvey Martin would tie that number in his rookie year in 1973 for the most-ever for a Cowboys’ rookie. The record stood until 2021 when Mich Parsons had 13 in his rookie year.
The cowboy hat-wearing, tobacco-chewing full back, Walt Garrison, was taken in the third round. He would see action during his rookie year as well.
The Cowboys took a flyer in the 20th round, selecting a wide receiver out of Minnesota named Lou Hudson. He never played a down of football.
But “Sweet” Lou Hudson did go on to make his name in the NBA. Playing 14 years with the then St. Louis Hawks, Atlanta Hawks, and two season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Red-Hot Start
The Cowboys didn’t just jump out of the gate, they rode a rocket ship out of it. Don Meredith threw for five touchdowns and 358 yards in the season-opener against the Giants.
Bob Hayes hauled in six passes for 195 yards and two scores while Dan Reeves caught six balls for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas piled up 518 yards in a 52-7 win over New York. It would not be their highest totals in points scored nor yardage gained for the season.
After dispatching the Vikings at home, 28-17, in Week 2, Dallas hit the road for its first-ever game against the Atlanta Falcons. The expansion team got steam-rolled 47-14.
The Cowboys returned home and crushed the Eagles 56-7, piling up 652 total yards. Meredith threw five touchdowns, three to Hayes and two to Reeves, on 394 yards passing.
Garrison scored his lone touchdown of his rookie season, giving Dallas a 49-0 lead in the 4th quarter.
Mid-Season Slump
Meredith would throw three interceptions at St. Louis the following week and the Cowboys were fortunate to escape with a 10-10 tie. He would throw four more the next week against the Browns in a 30-21 loss.
The Cowboys got healthy as they returned to the Cotton Bowl, routing the Steelers 52-21. Pittsburgh scored just one offensive touchdown in the game.
Marv Woodson would open the scoring with the 56 yard interception return. Cannonball Butler would close the first half with a 93-yard kickoff return.
But the Cowboys got a 49-yard interception return by Lee Roy Jordan and an 87-yard kickoff return by Mel Renfro to counter. Meredith would throw four touchdowns, two to Reeves.
Dallas would give up three special teams touchdowns the following week to the Eagles – a pair of over 90-yard kickoff returns and a 67-yard punt return — in a 24-23 loss to Philadelphia.
Dallas would close out the regular season by winning five of its final six games. Danny Villanueva’s 20-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 31-30 win over the Redskins. The Cowboys then felled the Steelers, 20-7, in Pittsburgh.
A Thanksgiving Tradition Is Born
Just four days later the Cowboys hosted the Browns in their first Thanksgiving Day game. The Browns scored a pair of touchdowns – each for a one-point lead – to go into halftime up 14-13.
But Dallas scored 13 unanswered points in the second half – extending its win streak to three games – with a 26-14 win.
The Cowboys got their second four-game win streak by securing a crucial divisional win over the Cardinals. The 31-17 win kept Dallas in first place with St. Louis, Cleveland and Philadelphia on their heels.
The Redskins stunned the Cowboys by scoring the final 10 points and handing Dallas a 34-31 loss in the Cowboys’ home finale.
But the loss proved of no concern as Dallas had secured the division title that day anyway. They closed the regular season with a 17-7 win at New York.
The Cowboys had finished with their first winning season and their first double-digit wins for a season. To go along with their first divisional crown, they’d earned a ticket to play for the NFL Championship against the Packers.
A Title Denied
The Packers jumped out to a quick 14 points lead, thanks to an 18-yard fumble return by Jim Grabowski. The Cowboys rallied to tie the game at 14 by the end of the first quarter.
But a Bart Starr 51-yard pass to Carroll Dale gave Green Bay the lead for good at 21-14. The Cowboys would stay close but could never get any closer than a point down.
Meredith would throw for 238 yards and a touchdown. But also threw an interception. Starr was flawless, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.
The Packers would claim the title with a 34-27 victory and, in the ultimate irony, go on to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever Super Bowl.
The Cowboys had just missed a chance to face their former cross-town rivals in pro football’s ultimate showcase game.
They would be back to challenge Green Bay for the throne but it would be a couple more years before they’d finally wrest it from their grasp.