1974 Season

The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games.^[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons and this marked the only season from 1966 to 1983 (18 seasons) that the Cowboys did not qualify.

The Cowboys began with a 1–4 start and although they went 7–2 afterwards, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.

The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day games in Cowboys history. Trailing 16–3 in the second half (and having already lost quarterback Roger Staubach to injury), little used backup Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes to lead the team to a 24–23 victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium.

1974 was also a season of transition; as it would be the final season of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers that season would be fullback Walt Garrison; and center Dave Manders. Also, this would be the final season for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who would finish his career with the San Francisco 49ers the following year); running back Calvin Hill (who departed for the Hawaiians of the World Football League); defensive end Pat Toomay (who left for the Buffalo Bills); guard John Niland (who left the following year for the Philadelphia Eagles) and quarterback Craig Morton (traded early in the season to the New York Giants) in a Cowboy uniform.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 15, 1974	at Atlanta Falcons	W 24–0	52,332
2	September 23, 1974	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 13–10	64,089
3	September 29, 1974	New York Giants	L 14–6	45,841
4	October 6, 1974	Minnesota Vikings	L 23–21	57,847
5	October 13, 1974	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 31–28	49,885
6	October 20, 1974	Philadelphia Eagles	W 31–24	43,586
7	October 27, 1974	at New York Giants	W 21–7	57,381
8	November 3, 1974	St. Louis Cardinals	W 17–14	64,146
9	November 10, 1974	San Francisco 49ers	W 20–14	50,018
10	November 17, 1974	at Washington Redskins	L 28–21	54,395
11	November 24, 1974	at Houston Oilers	W 10–0	49,775
12	November 28, 1974	Washington Redskins	W 24–23	63,243
13	December 7, 1974	Cleveland Browns	W 41–17	48,754
14	December 14, 1974	at Oakland Raiders	L 27–23	45,840

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster
Quarterbacks 19 Clint Longley 12 Roger Staubach Running Backs 21 Doug Dennison 32 Walt Garrison FB 35 Calvin Hill 37 Dennis Morgan PR 44 Robert Newhouse FB 40 Les Strayhorn 30 Charley Young Wide Receivers 22 Bob Hayes 86 Bill Houston 88 Drew Pearson 83 Golden Richards Tight Ends 89 Billy Joe DuPree 84 Jean Fugett 87 Ron Howard		Offensive Linemen 64 Jim Arneson G 62 John Fitzgerald C 60 Gene Killian G 51 Dave Manders C 73 Ralph Neely T 76 John Niland G 61 Blaine Nye G 78 Bruce Walton T 70 Rayfield Wright T Defensive Linemen 63 Larry Cole DE 77 Bill Gregory DT 72 Ed Jones DE 74 Bob Lilly DT 79 Harvey Martin DE 75 Jethro Pugh DT 67 Pat Toomay DE		Linebackers 52 Dave Edwards OLB 59 Ken Hutcherson MLB 55 Lee Roy Jordan MLB 50 D. D. Lewis OLB 58 Cal Peterson OLB 57 Louie Walker OLB Defensive Backs 31 Benny Barnes CB 34 Cornell Green SS 43 Cliff Harris FS/KR 20 Mel Renfro CB 46 Mark Washington CB 41 Charlie Waters CB/SS Special Teams 10 Duane Carrell P  1 Efren Herrera K		Reserve Lists Currently vacant Rookies in italics 46 Active, 0 Inactive