The 1989 Season

Record: 1-15
5th Place in NFC Eastern Division

Synopsis:

The 1989 season began like none other in the history. Bum Bright sold the Cowboys to Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones immediately fired Tom Landry and hired Jimmy Johnson. Jones' rather undiplomatic firing of Landry helped began this new era on a sour note. There was no doubt that the Cowboys were going to be a completely different team.

Because of the poor record in 1988, the Cowboys owned the overall first choice in the draft. New Head Coach Jimmy Johnson began his career by choosing quarterback Troy Aikman (OK, not a bad beginning). The genius of Johnson and his ability to judge the draft showed in the later rounds. In this his first draft, he also selected the likes of Daryl "Moose" Johnston, Mark Stepnoski, and Tony Tolbert. This was the start of the change. The new influx of talent meant that the veterans had to go.

If the changes were going to built another Cowboy powerhouse, it wouldn't be this year. The Cowboys were as bad as any Cowboy team ever has been. The Cowboys lost their first 8 before upsetting Washington at RFK 13-3. The Cowboys then lost the next seven to finish 1-15. Jimmy Johnson did pull-off one of the biggest trades in the history of the NFL. Jimmy Johnson traded his one star, Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. In return, he received Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Alex Stewart, Darrin Nelson, and Issiac Holt plus numerous other conditional draft choices. The condition was if Johnson kept the players on the team. He did not and the Cowboys were loaded in the draft for the next couple of years. The Cowboys ended the season scoring a NFL-low (by far) 204 points and allowing a high 393 points.

The 1980s ended with a 79-73 record. The record was skewed due the 3-13 and 1-15 seasons in 1988 and 1989. They had a 5-5 record in the playoffs, but did not make it to a Super Bowl in the decade. The did win two NFC Eastern Division Championships and make it to three NFC Championship Games. The 1990s would be an entirely different decade.

Notables:

• Jerry Jones purchases Dallas Cowboys on February 25.
• First year under Jimmy Johnson.
• Tex Schramm resigns at GM as sell is finalized on April 18.
• Paul Tagliabue named new NFL Commissioner.
• Lee Roy Jordan inducted into "Ring of Honor"
• Dallas ties NFL record for most losses in a season (15).
• Dallas sets NFL record for most consecutive home losses (14).

see 1989 NFL Standings