1989 Dallas Cowboys season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Dallas Cowboys
year = 1989
record = 1-15
division_place = 5th in NFC East
coach = Jimmy Johnson
stadium = Texas Stadium
playoffs = noneThe 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. 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 Walker would be traded to the Minnesota Vikings for multiple players and draft picks. By finishing 1-15 they received the top spot in the 1990 NFL Draft. Later, they would trade down and draft a running back out of Florida named Emmitt Smith. Other notable additions to the team that year include center Mark Stepnoski and fullback Daryl Johnston.

The two matchups between the Cowboys and Eagles (including one on Thanksgiving) were particularly hostile and became known as the Bounty Bowls.

Offseason

NFL Draft

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, "but Walker was never used properly by the coaching brain trust (a total oxymoron in this case)". [cite web |url= http://min.scout.com/2/11653.html |title= History: Walker Trade |work= Scout.com |date= 2001-06-20 |accessdate=2008-01-29 |author= By Viking Update Staff]

Awards and Honors

References

* http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal1989.htm