The Cowboys became the 13th NFL expansion franchise upon their establishment in 1960.
Dallas, located in northern Texas, has a population of over 1.2 million residents. Its metropolitan area, which includes Fort Worth to the west, ranks as the fifth-largest in the U.S. with more than 5.16 million people. Texas is known as the “Football State,” boasting a strong football culture and numerous players. The Cowboys are famously dubbed “America’s Team,” a title first used by NFL Films in highlights from the 1978 season.
This moniker gained traction due to the Cowboys’ success and popularity across the country, often featured on national broadcasts. They had won the Super Bowl twice and, despite losing to the Steelers the following year, made their fifth appearance. Their fame has only increased since then, and the nickname remains. They are also sometimes called “Big D” or “The Boys.”
While the Cowboys have had many notable players, they lack a formal system for retiring jersey numbers. Since their departures, Emmitt Smith’s No. 22, Troy Aikman’s No. 8, and Roger Staubach’s No. 12 have not been worn by anyone.
Instead of retiring numbers, the franchise honors exceptional athletes and contributors through the “Ring of Honor.”
Trey Lance
Lance was named the starting quarterback for the 2019 season after enrolling at North Dakota State University in 2018.
A dynamic quarterback, he proved his capability by rushing for 1,100 yards in 2019 after becoming a starter.
Following the 2020 season, he announced his intention to enter the 2021 NFL Draft instead of playing a fourth year.
Due to his strong performance, he was expected to be a top pick, and the San Francisco 49ers selected him third overall in the first round, which surprised many who thought they would choose Mac, another prominent quarterback.
Lance became the second-highest draft pick for a North Dakota State quarterback, following Carson Wentz in 2016, and the first quarterback selected early by the 49ers since Alex Smith in 2005. He signed a four-year rookie contract in July 2021.
He played in only two games in 2021 as the backup to Jimmy Garoppolo but contributed to a victory in one of them.
At the start of the 2022 season, Lance was named the starting quarterback; however, he was sidelined for the rest of the season due to an injury sustained in the second game.
Before the 2023 season, he was the third quarterback in practice, behind Sam Darnold, a free-agent signing, and Brock Purdy, who had performed well the previous season. Recently, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft, just before the season began.
