Dallas Cowboys trivia: iconic history and records

Explore Dallas Cowboys trivia, from Super Bowl runs and records to America's Team, then test what you learned in a quiz.

The Dallas Cowboys have built a history full of firsts, records, and big-stage moments. If you’re looking for Dallas Cowboys trivia, this is the story of how an expansion team from 1960 grew into one of the NFL’s defining franchises.

How did the Cowboys get started?

The Dallas Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. From there, the franchise kept stacking milestones that made it a constant part of league history. One of the most striking is its run of 20 straight winning seasons, from 1966 to 1985, a feat no other NFL team has matched.

That long stretch of success also helped build the Cowboys’ reputation as a team that stayed relevant across eras. The club’s name kept showing up in big games, in award races, and in record books, often with the same core idea: the Cowboys were rarely far from a major storyline.

How many Super Bowls have the Cowboys played in?

The Cowboys have reached the Super Bowl eight times. They were especially active in the 1970s, when they appeared in five Super Bowls during that decade and won two of them.

One of those titles came in Super Bowl VI, when the Cowboys rushed for a then-Super Bowl record 252 yards. Another came later in the decade, and the Cowboys’ connection to the era was strong enough that Bob Ryan dubbed them “America’s Team” after the Super Bowl following the 1978 season.

Their Super Bowl XII victory also produced a rare award moment. Randy White and Harvey Martin were named co-Super Bowl MVPs, the first and only time multiple players received the honor.

The Cowboys also have another place in NFL history: they were the first team to win a Super Bowl after starting 0–2.

What records define Cowboys history?

The Cowboys are tied for the most NFC championships with eight. That number sits alongside their Super Bowl appearances as one of the franchise’s key markers of sustained success.

Individual milestones are part of the story too. On October 28, 2002, Emmitt Smith broke the all-time NFL rushing record. It was the kind of headline that fits a franchise often tied to landmark moments rather than one isolated peak.

The Cowboys also own a unique regular-season streak. They are the only NFL team to record 20 straight winning seasons, spanning 1966 through 1985. That run sits at the center of any serious look at the team’s historical profile.

Why are the Cowboys such a business giant?

The Cowboys have also set records off the field. In 2014, they generated $620 million in revenue, a record for a U.S. sports team. The team’s value later reached major financial milestones as well: in 2015, the Cowboys became the first sports team valued at $4 billion, and in 2018, they became the first NFL franchise valued at $5 billion.

Their home crowds became part of the story too. The Cowboys’ streak of consecutive sellouts began in 2002 and reached 190 regular and postseason games. That run connected the team’s on-field profile with a consistent level of demand around every game.

What makes Dallas Cowboys trivia so rich?

It’s the mix. The Cowboys entered the league in 1960 as an expansion team, then added a 20-season winning streak, eight Super Bowl trips, eight NFC championships, a 1970s championship run, and several records that reached beyond football. Few franchises leave behind this many separate headlines.

From Super Bowl VI’s 252 rushing yards to the co-MVPs of Super Bowl XII, from Emmitt Smith’s rushing record to the sellout streak that began in 2002, the Cowboys have generated a long chain of defining moments. That’s why Dallas Cowboys trivia stays full of dates, numbers, and names worth remembering.

Now see how much you caught in the quiz.

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How many times have the Cowboys reached the Super Bowl?

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