The 1989 Dallas Cowboys season was the first year of the franchise under the ownership of Jerry Jones as well as under the helm of head coach Jimmy Johnson, who had compiled a 44–4 record in his last 4 years as coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Cowboys won only a single game all season.
Besides the entry of Johnson and Jones, the Cowboys made pre-season headlines by drafting UCLA quarterback Troy Aikmanwith the first pick in the NFL Draft. Curiously, they also drafted quarterback Steve Walsh later in the NFL's supplemental draft (in doing so, they gave up a number one pick in the 1990 draft). Walsh had played quarterback for Jimmy Johnson at the University of Miami and led the 'Canes to a 23–1 record as a starter and one national title.
Walsh and Aikman battled for the starting quarterback job in the pre-season, with Aikman winning the nod when the regular season began. Expectations were raised when the Cowboys finished with a strong 3–1 preseason record.
On opening day, the Cowboys were beaten by the New Orleans Saints, 28–0, and went on to finish 1–15 for the season. Aikman broke the index finger on his non-throwing hand in week four and Steve Walsh started the next 4 games (including the team's only win) before Aikman returned to finish the season.
Two of the few bright spots of the season were linebacker Eugene Lockhart, who led the league in tackles, and James Dixon, who was one of the NFL's leaders in kickoff return average.
1989 was the first season in the history of Monday Night Football that did not feature at least one Cowboys game.
The only win by the Cowboys during the season was against the rival Redskins in Washington. Though the season seemed a complete failure, it would prove to be the prelude to many great years ahead. Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, future centerpieces of the Cowboys' dynasty, headlined this team. During the season, star running back Herschel Walkerwould be traded to the Minnesota Vikings for multiple players and draft picks. By finishing 1–15 they would have received the top spot in the 1990 NFL Draft, however since they drafted Steve Walsh, the pick was forfeited. Later, they would trade and draft a running back out of Florida named Emmitt Smith, with one of the many draft choices obtained from the Vikings in the Hershel Walker trade. Other notable additions to the team that year include center Mark Stepnoski, fullback Daryl Johnston, and defensive end Tony Tolbert.
The two matchups between the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles (including one on Thanksgiving) were particularly hostile and became known as the Bounty Bowls.
The 1989 season was the final NFL season for the legendary Ed "Too Tall" Jones and longtime offensive lineman Tom Rafferty.
The Cowboys' futility in finishing 1-15 matched that of the 1980 New Orleans Saints and became the second team to end a season at 1-15. This embarrassment would later be matched by the 1990 New England Patriots the next year, 1991 Indianapolis Colts, 1996 New York Jets, 2000 San Diego Chargers, 2001 Carolina Panthers, 2007 Miami Dolphinsand 2009 St. Louis Rams. However, the 2008 Detroit Lions would do worse, finishing with an 0-16 record.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10, 1989 | at New Orleans Saints | L 28–0 | |
| 2 | September 17, 1989 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 27–21 | |
| 3 | September 24, 1989 | Washington Redskins | L 30–7 | |
| 4 | October 1, 1989 | New York Giants | L 30–13 | |
| 5 | October 8, 1989 | at Green Bay Packers | L 31–13 | |
| 6 | October 15, 1989 | San Francisco 49ers | L 31–14 | |
| 7 | October 22, 1989 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 36–28 | |
| 8 | October 29, 1989 | Phoenix Cardinals | L 19–10 | |
| 9 | November 5, 1989 | at Washington Redskins | W 13–3 | |
| 10 | November 12, 1989 | at Phoenix Cardinals | L 24–20 | |
| 11 | November 19, 1989 | Miami Dolphins | L 17–14 | |
| 12 | November 23, 1989 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 27–0 | |
| 13 | December 3, 1989 | Los Angeles Rams | L 35–31 | |
| 14 | December 10, 1989 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–10 | |
| 15 | December 16, 1989 | at New York Giants | L 15–0 | |
| 16 | December 24, 1989 | Green Bay Packers | L 20–10 |
Herschel Walker
In 1989, at the height of his NFL career, the Cowboys traded him to the Minnesota Vikings for a total of five players (LB Jesse Solomon, DB Issiac Holt, RB Darrin Nelson, LB David Howard, DE Alex Stewart) and six draft picks (which led to Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson). This was judged to be one of the turning points in the rise of the Cowboys to the top echelon of the NFL. Walker's trade was widely perceived as an exceptionally poor move considering what the Vikings had to give up in order to get him, and remains one of the most frequently vilified roster moves of the team's history. The Vikings coaches reluctantly accepted Walker after the trade and never totally used the tool they had been given. Scout.com says "Walker was never used properly by the coaching brain trust (a total oxymoron in this case)".
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