After a second-straight Super Bowl win over Buffalo in January, the Cowboys were early favorites to make it three in a row at the end of the 1994 season.
Barring catastrophic injuries, the team was young and solid at every position. They seemed an unstoppable juggernaut.
Only self-sabotage could undo this dynasty and that is precisely what happened. On March 29, 1994, Jerry Jones fired Jimmy Johnson as head coach.
What Just Happened?
At the heart of the break up was who was getting the credit for returning the Cowboys to the top of the NFL.
Jones, the owner, had played college football with Johnson. But he would go on to become a successful businessman in the oil fields.
His talent was making money and writing the checks to get the best players on the roster.
Johnson went on to be a successful football coach. His talent was identifying good players and getting the best out of them.
Johnson knew how to forge winning teams that won championships.
So who would you think should be getting the credit for on-field production in this equation? Everyone in the world said: Johnson. Jones was the lone dissenter and set out to prove his case.
History would eventually conclude that he was wrong. But Jones went ahead and became the owner that fired the best two coaches in Cowboys history anyway.
The move shocked everyone. Even Johnson’s eventual replacement, Barry Switzer, was dumbfounded.
“Would you or Jimmy please explain to me how two guys could be on top of the world and win two straight Super Bowls and not be able to get along with each other?” Switzer is quoted as saying at the time.
With a chance to make history, Jones couldn’t find a way. Instead he would turn the team, and its bid for history, over to a coach with zero NFL coaching experience.
An Ominous Sign
The Cowboys first draft without Johnson was not impressive. Dallas selected Shante Carver in the first round. He would be out of the NFL after the 1997 season.
Jones got one pick right, taking Larry Allen in the second round. The remaining five picks were George Hegamin, Willie Jackson, DeWayne Dotson, Darren Studstill, and Toddrick McIntosh.
Only the Hall Of Famer Allen prevented this draft class from getting from a D- grade.
A Promising Start
Once the season got underway it looked like the turmoil would have little effect on the team. Wins over the Steelers (26-9) and Oilers (20-17) got the Cowboys off to a 2-0 start.
Dallas had three fumbles and allowed Barry Sanders to rack up 194 rushing yards in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Lions before a Week 4 bye.
A six-game win streak followed as the Cowboys downed the Redskins, Cardinals (twice with Buddy Ryan as Arizona’s head coach), Eagles, Bengals, and Giants to go to 8-1.
The streak ended in San Francisco with a 21-14 loss to the 49ers. It would prove to be a very costly loss that ultimately determined which team would be the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Down The Stretch
The Cowboys dispatched the Redskins, Packers and Eagles in quick order following the loss in San Francisco.
With Troy Aikman out of the lineup after getting knocked out of the Redskins game four days before, Dallas turned to Jason Garrett to start the Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay.
Dallas trailed 17-6 at halftime but scored 36 points in the second half for the 42-31 victory. Garrett would throw for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cowboys would drop two of their last three games – 19-14 to Cleveland, and 15-10 to the Giants. A 24-16 win over the Saints came in between the losses.
Dallas finished the season at 12-4, winning the NFC East, but settling for the No. 2 seed behind the 49ers at 13-3.
Disappointing Playoffs
Green Bay returned to Dallas for the Divisional round game. This time, there would be no shootout.
Aikman would throw for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Irvin (111), Alvin Harper (108), and Jay Novacek (104) would all have 100-yard receiving games in the 35-9 win.
For the third-straight year the Cowboys would face the 49ers in the NFC Championship game. But the 1994 Cowboys were undisciplined and it cost them dearly.
Dallas had five turnovers – three on Aikman interceptions. A controversial non-call on an obvious pass interference by Deion Sanders on Michael Irvin sealed a 38-28 win for the 49ers.
There would be no three-peat for the Cowboys. Jones’ claim that there were 500 coaches that could coach the Cowboys seemed even more ridiculous.
We’ve been saying this all along. Jones is the main reason the Cowboys have dropped to mediocrity since its greatness before he became owner. Jones is the problem.
’96
The niners cheated on the first year of the cap with Norton Jr. And Deion..
It was still the best team until ’96
Alfred E Zimmers Explain please
No it started when he runs Jimmy Johnson off but Johnson had acquired enough talent they should have won the year after he left and then luckily they did next year but Jones he’s a football idiot smart businessman he makes money but he don’t win titles
Can’t believe Lynch didn’t run the ball…
The good days of the Dallas Cowboys are behind them.
Jerrrrrrrrrrrrrrah!!!! Worst move ever made.
The empire ended when the salary cap started.
Mark Thames How are you doing today?! think you should find someone to talk to.,
There you go!!!!!
Once again, as I have said all along, Jerry was the GM and owner and made the decisions as to who was on the team and got paid well. Johnson was the head coach, he had a great DC in Wandstedt and did nothing offensively until Jones hired Norv turner to be the OC. Johnson was a great cheerleader; he did not call any plays offensive or defensive. BUT that was what he was good at. He was the same in college, never was a play caller. Jones gets the credit for the team he put together. Johnson for coaching that team to SB wins.
keep in mind Johnson wanted Walsh as his QB, not Aikman. So Jones traded Walsh off.
Not true. It is true that Aikman was skeptical of Jimmy in the early years. However, Jimmy wanted competition and insurance at QB and he’s routinely stated Aikman was always going to be the guy in Dallas. Steve Pelluer was holding out wanting double his 1988 salary which left Dallas short on QBs with camp set to start in two weeks. They had Aikman, Laufenberg, and Secules on the roster and White was unsigned after his contract ran out following the 1988 season and no other team offered; he retired 12 July. So, they drafted Walsh in the 1989 Supp Draft on 7 July to add depth and potential quality to the position.
Jimmy selected Walsh knowing he’d have a tradable asset from day one, especially once Aikman progressed. In fact, Dallas had received interest from a handful of teams, including the Packers and Vikings, immediately after the 89 Supp Draft but no deal could be agreed to. Aikman said Jones told him they were probably drafting Rosenbach but solely for trade options; same applies with Walsh. Much of the media nonsense about Aikman or Walsh was Jimmy doing what he always did – limit praise and make people unsure of their jobs. He had to mold this team from scratch.
The main connection most see is Walsh played for Jimmy at Miami but forget (or don’t know) Jimmy offered Aikman a scholarship to Oklahoma State before taking the Miami job and tried to lure Akiman to Miami in 1986 after he put in a transfer to leave Oklahoma. Jimmy was the first college coach to visit Aikman’s house when he was courting him to Oklahoma State in 1983 and had him listed as his top offensive recruit. Aikman has stated he was basically going there before he visited the Oklahoma campus later and Switzer convinced him. Jimmy made the first call to when Aikman put in a transfer and he would have thrived with Miami’s talents, easily beating out Walsh who may have transferred out.
But sure enough that foresight saw Dallas gobble up draft picks early in the 1990 season when Jimmy shipped Walsh to New Orleans. Jimmy not Jerry. Jimmy made all the personnel moves during his tenure as his contract stated such. Jerry has held full control of all personnel moves since firing Jimmy.
Jeff Williams How are you doing today?! think you should find someone to talk to.,
Gloria M. Gordon good report
Johnson was the one who identified the players Dallas should go after, not Jerry. Just look at the quality of the drafts following Jimmy’s departure. And the Galloway trade? Huge mistake by Jerry that Dallas paid for over several seasons.
I’m sorry. Jerry gets credit for cutting the checks and for being a good salesman. But a great football mind he is not.
Yup JJ’s ego n deep pockets will not win him any championship or playoff games without a great leader….
Arnel Pecson How are you doing today?! think you should find someone to talk to.,
Dethroned as ‘America’s Team’.
Larry Tiner How are you doing today?! think you should find someone to talk to.,
Barry won with Jimmy’s team . Jerry had the money . Jimmy had the Football knowledge . Also – – Jimmy was a Disciplinarian . He kept them in line and in fear of losing their job .
Then you Fired Jimmy Johnson! Idiot?? If it ain’t broke! Don’t fix it!
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With the team you had?? 2 – 3 more Super Bowls! Leagues
Worst!! OWNER
Media:
Fjerry
as a Cowboys fan, I remembered exactly what happen Jerry Jones let his ego get in the way he got jealous of Jimmy Johnson because he picked the talent and mold and develop the talent and Jerry Jones didn’t get any credit for it so Jerry Jones got mad a fired his so called best friend Jimmy Johnson and after salary cap came Jerry Jones took over the G.M. position the Cowboys went down hill ever sines