The 1998 Dallas Cowboys season was the Cowboys' 39th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Cowboys were looking to improve on their 6–10 mark from the year before and head to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in the 1990s.
After the previous season, head coach Barry Switzer resigned after four seasons in which he led the Cowboys to the playoffs three times and won Super Bowl XXX. Chan Gailey, who had been offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was hired as his replacement.
The Cowboys did manage to record a 10–6 record and once again win the NFC East as they had done in the five seasons prior to 1997. However, the Cowboys did not advance beyond the Wild Card round as they were upset by the Arizona Cardinals, who had not won a playoff game since 1947, when the franchise was based in Chicago. The Cowboys would not win another NFC East title until 2007.
Offseason Additions Subtractions RB Chris Warren (Seahawks) QB Wade Wilson (Raiders) SS George Teague (Dolphins) FS Brock Marion (Dolphins) G Everett McIver (Dolphins) C John Flannery (Rams) LB Vinson Smith (Saints) SS Bill Bates (Retired) T Mark Tuinei (Retired) DE Tony Tolbert (Retired) RB Herschel Walker (Retired)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1998 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRonald BaileyCornerbackGeorgiaKent BoothGuardNorthern IllinoisBarry CantrellPunterFordhamChike EgbuniweLinebackerDukeCory GeasonTight endTulane
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1998 roster Quarterbacks Troy Aikman Jason Garrett Mike Quinn
Running backs Daryl Johnston FB Emmitt Smith Nicky Sualua FB Chris Warren KR Sherman Williams
Wide receivers Billy Davis Michael Irvin Patrick Jeffers Jeff Ogden
Tight ends Eric Bjornson Hayward Clay David LaFleur Offensive linemen Flozell Adams G Larry Allen T Tony Hutson G/T Mike Kiselak C Nate Newton G Oliver Ross G/T Clay Shiver C Erik Williams T
Defensive linemen Antonio Anderson DE Nathan Davis DT Greg Ellis DE Chad Hennings DT Leon Lett DT Hurvin McCormack DE/DT Michael Myers DE/DT Kavika Pittman DE Artie Smith DE/DTLinebackers Dexter Coakley OLB Randall Godfrey OLB Darren Hambrick OLB Fred Strickland MLB Robert Thomas MLB Brandon Tolbert OLB
Defensive backs Larry Brown CB Tyrone Hughes CB/KR/PR Kevin Mathis CB/KR Singor Mobley SS Izell Reese FS Deion Sanders CB/PR Kevin Smith CB Omar Stoutmire FS George Teague SS Kenny Wheaton CB Charlie Williams CB/S Darren Woodson FS/SS Special teams Richie Cunningham K Toby Gowin P Dale Hellestrae LSReserve lists Darren Benson DT (IR) Wendell Davis CB (IR) Nate Hemsley LB (IR) Everett McIver G (IR) Ernie Mills WR (IR) Beau Morgan RB (Military) Broderick Thomas LB (IR)
Practice squad Terry Billups CB Denny Fortney DE Zebbie Lethridge CB Myron Smith LB Tarik Smith RB
Rookies in italics 53 active, 7 inactive, 5 practice squad
Regular season Gailey would revitalize the Cowboys offense, particularly the running game, which had seen a recent decline despite the presence of running back Emmitt Smith. The trio of Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin helped the Cowboys be the first ever NFC East team to sweep their division en route to capturing the NFC East title, the team's sixth of the 90's. The Cowboys would later encounter the Arizona Cardinals for the third time that season in the NFC Wild Card Game, but would lose in a stunning upset in the first round at Texas Stadium. Cornerback Deion Sanders suffered an injury to his toe in a regular season victory over Arizona and made a surprise return against them in the playoff loss.
Aikman was injured in a week two loss at Denver and missed the next five games. Future Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett started all games during Aikman's absence and went 3–2 as the starting quarterback.
Notable additions to the team that year include defensive end Greg Ellis and offensive tackle Flozell Adams. Ellis was drafted with the 8th pick in the first round. Many were stunned that the Cowboys didn't draft Randy Moss (most likely for his off-the-field issues).
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 6 Arizona Cardinals W 38–10 1–0 Texas Stadium 63,602 2 September 13 at Denver Broncos L 23–42 1–1 Mile High Stadium 75,013 3 at New York Giants W 31–7 2–1 Giants Stadium 78,039 4 September 27 Oakland Raiders L 12–13 2–2 Texas Stadium 63,544 5 October 4 at Washington Redskins W 31–10 3–2 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium 72,284 6 October 11 Carolina Panthers W 27–20 4–2 Texas Stadium 64,181 7 October 18 at Chicago Bears L 12–13 4–3 Soldier Field 59,201 8 Bye 9 at Philadelphia Eagles W 34–0 5–3 Veterans Stadium 67,002 10 November 8 New York Giants W 16–6 6–3 Texas Stadium 64,316 11 November 15 at Arizona Cardinals W 35–28 7–3 Sun Devil Stadium 71,670 12 November 22 Seattle Seahawks W 30–22 8–3 Texas Stadium 64,142 13 November 26 Minnesota Vikings L 36–46 8–4 Texas Stadium 64,366 14 December 6 at New Orleans Saints L 3–22 8–5 Louisiana Superdome 65,065 15 December 13 at Kansas City Chiefs L 17–20 8–6 Arrowhead Stadium 77,697 16 December 20 Philadelphia Eagles W 13–9 9–6 Texas Stadium 62,722 17 December 27 Washington Redskins W 23–7 10–6 Texas Stadium 63,565 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Playoffs
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue TV Wild Card January 2, 1999 Arizona Cardinals (6) L 20–7 0–1 Texas Stadium ABC
Publications The Football Encyclopedia Total Football Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
References
External links
Pro Football Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Official Site