Editing Dallas Cowboys (section)

==== Jimmy Johnson years (1989–1993) ====
{{See also|Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)}}
[[File:Texas Stadium - Dallas Cowboys World Champions Mural.JPG|thumb|upright=1|The five-time world champions mural]]
Jones immediately fired Tom Landry, the only head coach in franchise history, replacing him with [[University of Miami]] head coach [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]], who was also Jones' teammate at the [[University of Arkansas]] as a fellow defensive lineman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 26, 1989 |title=NEW COWBOYS OWNER FIRES LANDRY, HIRES JIMMY JOHNSON ARKANSAS MILLIONAIRE BUYS CLUB, TAPS MIAMI COACH - HIS EX-ROOMMATE |url=https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/26/18796703/new-cowboys-owner-fires-landry-hires-jimmy-johnson-br-arkansas-millionaire-buys-club-taps-miami-coac |access-date=November 15, 2023 |website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> The hiring of Johnson also reunited Johnson with second-year wide receiver [[Michael Irvin]], who had played collegiately at Miami. With the first pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected [[UCLA]] quarterback [[Troy Aikman]]. Later that same year, they would [[Herschel Walker trade|trade veteran running back]] [[Herschel Walker]] to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] for five veteran players and eight draft choices. Although the Cowboys finished the [[1989 Dallas Cowboys season|1989 season]] with a 1–15 record, their worst in almost 30 years, "The Trade" later allowed Dallas to draft a number of impact players to rebuild the team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2017 |title=The Story of Dallas Cowboys 1992 3rd Super Bowl |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQcPRZLqeK8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421201522/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQcPRZLqeK8&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=June 18, 2017 |website=YouTube.com |publisher=Law Nation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1989.htm |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Johnson quickly returned the Cowboys to the NFL's elite. Skillful drafts added fullback [[Daryl Johnston]] and center [[Mark Stepnoski]] in 1989, running back [[Emmitt Smith]] in 1990, defensive tackle [[Russell Maryland]] and offensive tackle [[Erik Williams]] in 1991, and safety [[Darren Woodson]] in 1992. The young talent joined holdovers from the Landry era such as wide receiver Michael Irvin, guard [[Nate Newton]], linebacker [[Ken Norton Jr.]], and offensive lineman [[Mark Tuinei]], defensive lineman [[Jim Jeffcoat]], and veteran pickups such as tight end [[Jay Novacek]] and defensive end [[Charles Haley]].

Things started to look up for the franchise in [[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|1990]]. On Week 1 Dallas won their first home game since September 1988 when they defeated the [[San Diego Chargers]] 17–14. They went 2–7 in their next 9 games but won 4 of their last 6 games to finish the season with a 4th place 7–9 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1990.htm |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Coming into [[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|1991]] the Cowboys replaced offensive coordinator [[Dave Shula]] with [[Norv Turner]]; the Cowboys raced to a 6–5 start, then defeated the previously unbeaten [[1991 Washington Redskins season|Redskins]] despite injury to Troy Aikman. Backup [[Steve Beuerlein]] took over and the Cowboys finished 11–5. In the Wild Card round they defeated the [[1991 Chicago Bears season|Bears]] 17–13 for the Cowboys' first playoff win since 1982. In the Divisional round their season ended in a 38–6 playoff rout by the [[1991 Detroit Lions season|Lions]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions - January 5th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201050det.htm |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>