The 1969 Season

Record: 11-2-1
Capitol Division Champion

Synopsis:

The 1969 season began with the end of an era for Dallas. The last of the original Cowboys, Don Meredith and Don Perkins, retired. Though Dallas had many runners to replace the aging Perkins, replacing Meredith was something different. The surprising retirement of Meredith left the job up to Craig Morton despite the arrival of Roger Staubach. The Cowboys further surprised the NFL, by the drafting Yale's Calvin Hill in the first round. Dallas also traded for tight end Mike Ditka.

Dallas again stormed through their first six games of the season. But just like in 1968, they were crushed in the seventh game by the team that ended their previous season. This year, Cleveland beat Dallas 42-10. Though Dallas finished the season with an 11-2-1 record and their third straight Capital Division Championship, the seeds of disappointment were placed. Dallas still hadn't won the game that mattered.

Well, Dallas got their chance to avenge the earlier loss to Cleveland when they played the Browns in the NFL Eastern Conference Championship. This time it was in Dallas, but the result remained the same-- Dallas lost. The Cowboys was trounced by Cleveland 38-14, who were in turn beaten by the Minnesota Vikings. The loss send the Cowboys to the Playoff Bowl for the second year where they never had a chance. The Cowboys never got up for the game after the bitter disappointment in the loss to Cleveland. The game ended in an embarrassing 31-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Despite these playoff losses, the 1960's were successful for the Dallas Cowboys. They were established as one of the premier teams in the NFL. Their regular season record in the 1960's was a respectable 67-65-6. They won one Eastern Conference Championship in 1967 and three Capital Division Championships. Their detractors, though, pointed to the Cowboys 1-4 playoff record and their failure to win the big game. Insult was added to injury when they pointed out the appearance of the other expansion team, the Minnesota Vikings, in Super Bowl IV despite entering the league a year later than the Cowboys.

Notables:

• Ground Broke for Texas Stadium on January 25.
• The last of the original Cowboys retire
  • Don Meredith on July 5
  • Don Perkins on July 18
• Calvin Hill voted NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Dallas sets NFL record for consecutive seasons leading league in fewest yards allowed (4).

see 1969 NFL Standings