1997 Dallas Cowboys season

1997 Dallas Cowboys season
1997 Dallas Cowboys season
Owner	Jerry Jones
General manager	Jerry Jones
Head coach	Barry Switzer
Home field	Texas Stadium
Results
Record	6–10
Division place	4th NFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	G Larry Allen; G Nate Newton; CB Deion Sanders (did not play); S Darren Woodson (did not play)
	← 1996; Cowboys seasons; 1998 →;

The 1997 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 38th season in the National Football League (NFL) and was the fourth and final season under head coach Barry Switzer. Before the season considered among the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXII—which would have been their fourth such appearance in the 1990s—the team took a significant step backwards.

The Cowboys not only failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 1996, they finished with a losing record for the first time since 1990 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. A series of countless off-the-field incidents, lack of discipline, and rumors of infighting between quarterback Troy Aikman and head coach Barry Switzer plagued the team throughout the year.

Switzer resigned at the end of the season, bringing his coaching career to an end. Chan Gailey would be his successor.

Offseason

NFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1997 Dallas Cowboys draft
1	22	David LaFleur	Tight end	LSU
3	65	Dexter Coakley *	Linebacker	Appalachian State
3	83	Steve Scifres	Guard	Wyoming
3	94	Kenny Wheaton	Cornerback	Oregon
4	101	Antonio Anderson	Defensive tackle	Syracuse
4	127	Macey Brooks	Wide receiver	James Madison
4	129	Nicky Sualua	Fullback	Ohio State
6	187	Lee Vaughn	Cornerback	Boston College
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1997 roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

52 Dexter Coakley OLB
56 Randall Godfrey OLB
58 Nate Hemsley MLB
57 Vinson Smith OLB
55 Fred Strickland MLB
51 Broderick Thomas OLB

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

37 Lee Vaughn CB (IR)
19 Macey Brooks WR (IR)
32 Beau Morgan RB (Military)

-- John Reece CB (IR)

Practice squad

49 Sean Simms TE
-- Emory Smith FB

Rookies in italics
53 active, 4 inactive, 2 practice squad

Regular season

Though the season began well with an impressive win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a 3–1 start, the Cowboys would soon see a sharp decline that included five consecutive losses to close out the year. A series of countless off-the-field incidents, lack of discipline, and rumors of infighting between quarterback Troy Aikman and head coach Barry Switzer plagued the team throughout the year. In a season filled with injuries and controversy, which also saw a tearful Michael Irvin promising change following a tough loss to the New York Giants in the final regular season game, Switzer would later resign after the season. Notable additions to the team were linebacker Dexter Coakley.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Recap
1	August 31	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 37–7	1–0	Three Rivers Stadium	Recap
2	September 7	at Arizona Cardinals	L 22–25 (OT)	1–1	Sun Devil Stadium	Recap
3	September 15	Philadelphia Eagles	W 21–20	2–1	Texas Stadium	Recap
4	Bye
5	September 28	Chicago Bears	W 27–3	3–1	Texas Stadium	Recap
6	October 5	at New York Giants	L 17–20	3–2	Giants Stadium	Recap
7	October 13	at Washington Redskins	L 16–21	3–3	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium	Recap
8	October 19	Jacksonville Jaguars	W 26–22	4–3	Texas Stadium	Recap
9	October 26	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 12–13	4–4	Veterans Stadium	Recap
10	November 2	at San Francisco 49ers	L 10–17	4–5	Candlestick Park	Recap
11	November 9	Arizona Cardinals	W 24–6	5–5	Texas Stadium	Recap
12	November 16	Washington Redskins	W 17–14	6–5	Texas Stadium	Recap
13	November 23	at Green Bay Packers	L 17–45	6–6	Lambeau Field	Recap
14	November 27	Tennessee Oilers	L 14–27	6–7	Texas Stadium	Recap
15	December 8	Carolina Panthers	L 13–23	6–8	Texas Stadium	Recap
16	December 14	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 24–31	6–9	Cinergy Field	Recap
17	December 21	New York Giants	L 7–20	6–10	Texas Stadium	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cowboys	0	17	17	3	37
Steelers	0	0	0	7	7

Date: August 31
Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall (play by play), John Madden (color commentator), Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)

Michael Irvin 7 Rec, 153 Yds

^[1]

Standings

NFC East
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽³⁾ New York Giants	10	5	1	.656	307	265	W3
Washington Redskins	8	7	1	.531	327	289	W1
Philadelphia Eagles	6	9	1	.406	317	372	L3
Dallas Cowboys	6	10	0	.375	304	314	L5
Arizona Cardinals	4	12	0	.250	283	379	W1