The 2015 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh playing home games at AT&T Stadium and their fifth full season under head coach Jason Garrett. They finished the regular season with a 4–12 record, which was their first losing season since 2010, their worst since 1989, when they went 1–15, and the first time (and, as of the 2025 season, only time) the Cowboys finished in last place in the NFC East since 2002.
Despite starting 2–0, they would struggle immensely. Key injuries, including starting quarterback Tony Romo were factors in their struggles of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention with their Week 15 loss to the New York Jets. This would be the last losing season for the Cowboys until 2020. Offseason Staff transactions Head coach Jason Garrett remains head coach signing a five-year $30 million contract Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli resigned to a three-year contract
Players transactions Resigned wide receiver Dez Bryant to a five-year $70 million contract Resigned right tackle Doug Free to a three-year contract RB Demarco Murray departed signing a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles
2015 draft class
Notes The Cowboys traded their sixth-round selection (No. 204 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the Ravens' seventh-round selection (No. 243 overall) and linebacker Rolando McClain. The Cowboys traded their original seventh-round selection (No. 244 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for defensive end Caesar Rayford. The Cowboys acquired an additional seventh-round selection (No. 236 overall) in a trade that sent defensive tackle Sean Lissemore to the San Diego Chargers. Dallas acquired another additional seventh-round selection (No. 246 overall) in exchange for their sixth-round pick in 2016.
Undrafted free agents Name Position College George Farmer Wide receiver USC Antwan Goodley Wide receiver Baylor Deontay Greenberry Wide receiver Houston Joel Ross Cornerback Appalachian State Tim Scott Cornerback North Carolina Jameill Showers Quarterback UTEP Ray Vinopal Safety Pittsburgh Lucky Whitehead Wide receiver Florida Atlantic
Regular season Despite starting the season 2–0 and leading the NFC East, the Cowboys lost their next seven games and finished the season by going 2–12 in their final 14 games. They were eliminated from playoff contention following a loss to the New York Jets in week 15. Their collapse from a solid start was primarily due to injuries to starting quarterback Tony Romo and starting wide receiver Dez Bryant. Bryant broke a bone in his foot during the week 1 win against the Giants, and Romo suffered a broken clavicle in the week 2 triumph at Philadelphia. Brandon Weeden started the next 3 games, which the team lost, and then was benched in week 7 following the bye week in favor of Matt Cassel, who was acquired via trade from the Buffalo Bills following Romo's injury. The Cowboys, with Cassell at the helm, lost their next 4 games. Tony Romo, not fully recovered from his broken collarbone injury, started the next game against the Dolphins, which they won. However, in a week 12 loss against the undefeated Panthers, Romo suffered a second collarbone injury and was later ruled out for the season. Matt Cassel then started the next 3 games for the Cowboys with a week 13 win against the rival Redskins. But after a poor performance against the New York Jets in week 15 in the 1st half, Cassel was benched in favor of backup Kellen Moore, and the team went on to lose the rest of the games of the season.
Staff
Rosters
Opening preseason roster
Dallas Cowboys 2015 opening preseason roster Quarterbacks Tony Romo Jameill Showers Dustin Vaughan Brandon Weeden
Running backs Ray Agnew III FB Tyler Clutts FB Lance Dunbar Gus Johnson Joseph Randle Lache Seastrunk
Wide receivers Cole Beasley Dez Bryant Reggie Dunn George Farmer Antwan Goodley Deontay Greenberry Nick Harwell A. J. Jenkins Devin Street Lucky Whitehead Terrance Williams
Tight ends Brandon Barden Gavin Escobar James Hanna Geoff Swaim Jason Witten Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau C/G Cody Clay G/T La'el Collins G/T R. J. Dill G/T Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Laurence Gibson T Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Shane McDermott C Ronald Patrick G/C Tyron Smith T Darrion Weems T John Wetzel T/G
Defensive linemen Ken Bishop DT Kenneth Boatright DE Davon Coleman DT Jack Crawford DT/DE Tyrone Crawford DT Lavar Edwards DE Ben Gardner DE Randy Gregory DE Greg Hardy DE/DT Nick Hayden DT DeMarcus Lawrence DE Terrell McClain DT Jeremy Mincey DE Efe Obada DE Ryan Russell DE/DTLinebackers Donnie Baggs OLB Jasper Brinkley MLB Jonathan Brown OLB/MLB Andrew Gachkar OLB Ka'Lial Glaud MLB/OLB Anthony Hitchens OLB/MLB Sean Lee OLB/MLB Keith Smith OLB Kyle Wilber OLB/DE Damien Wilson OLB/MLB
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Barry Church FS Morris Claiborne CB Jeff Heath SS Byron Jones CB/FS Danny McCray FS Tyler Patmon CB Joel Ross CB Orlando Scandrick CB Tim Scott FS Brandon Smith CB Robert Steeples CB Ray Vinopal SS/FS Corey White CB/FS J. J. Wilcox SS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Tom Hornsey P Chris Jones P Casey Kreiter LS L. P. Ladouceur LS Reserve lists Reshod Fortenberry G/T (IR) Chaz Green T (Active/PUP) Justin Jackson OLB (IR) Cameron Lawrence OLB/MLB (IR) Rolando McClain MLB (Active/PUP) Darren McFadden RB (Active/PUP) Ryan Miller T/G (IR) Mark Nzeocha OLB (Active/NF-Inj.) Will Smith OLB (IR) Chris Whaley DT (IR) Ryan Williams RB (IR) Jason Wilson CB (IR)
89 active, 8 inactive
Week one roster
Dallas Cowboys 2015 week one roster Quarterbacks Tony Romo Brandon Weeden Running backs Tyler Clutts FB Lance Dunbar KR Darren McFadden Christine Michael Joseph Randle
Wide receivers Cole Beasley PR Dez Bryant Devin Street Lucky Whitehead Terrance Williams
Tight ends Gavin Escobar James Hanna Geoff Swaim Jason Witten Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau C/G La'el Collins G/T Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Jordan Mills T Tyron Smith T Darrion Weems T
Defensive linemen Ken Bishop DT Davon Coleman DT Jack Crawford DT/DE Tyrone Crawford DT Randy Gregory DE Nick Hayden DT DeMarcus Lawrence DE Terrell McClain DT Jeremy Mincey DE Ryan Russell DE/DTLinebackers Andrew Gachkar MLB/OLB Anthony Hitchens OLB/MLB Sean Lee OLB/MLB Keith Smith OLB Kyle Wilber OLB/DE Damien Wilson OLB/MLB
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Barry Church SS Morris Claiborne CB Jeff Heath SS Byron Jones CB/FS Danny McCray FS Tyler Patmon CB Corey White CB/FS J. J. Wilcox FS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Chris Jones P L. P. Ladouceur LS Reserve lists Kenneth Boatright DE (IR) Cody Clay G/T (IR) R. J. Dill G/T (IR) Reshod Fortenberry G/T (IR) Ka'Lial Glaud MLB/OLB (IR) Chaz Green T (PUP) Greg Hardy DE/DT (Susp.) Michael Hill RB (IR) Cameron Lawrence OLB/MLB (IR) Rolando McClain MLB (Susp.) Ryan Miller T/G (IR) Mark Nzeocha OLB (NF-Inj.) Orlando Scandrick CB (IR) Rod Sweeting CB (IR) Chris Whaley DT (IR) Ryan Williams RB (IR)
Practice squad Dakorey Johnson OLB Gus Johnson RB Vince Mayle WR Kellen Moore QB Deji Olatoye CB Tim Scott FS Jameill Showers QB Rodney Smith WR Joe Thomas MLB John Wetzel T/G
53 active, 16 inactive, 10 practice squad
Final roster
Dallas Cowboys 2015 final roster Quarterbacks Matt Cassel Kellen Moore Jameill Showers Running backs Tyler Clutts FB Darren McFadden Rod Smith Robert Turbin
Wide receivers Cole Beasley Brice Butler Vince Mayle Rodney Smith Devin Street Lucky Whitehead Terrance Williams
Tight ends James Hanna Geoff Swaim Jason Witten Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau G/C Charles Brown T La'el Collins G Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Chaz Green T/G Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Tyron Smith T
Defensive linemen Jack Crawford DE Tyrone Crawford DT Randy Gregory DE Greg Hardy DE Nick Hayden DT DeMarcus Lawrence DE Jeremy Mincey DE Casey Walker DTLinebackers Andrew Gachkar OLB Anthony Hitchens OLB/MLB Sean Lee OLB Rolando McClain MLB Mark Nzeocha OLB Kyle Wilber OLB Damien Wilson OLB/MLB
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Morris Claiborne CB Jeff Heath SS Byron Jones FS/CB Danny McCray SS Terrance Mitchell CB Deji Olatoye CB Josh Thomas CB J. J. Wilcox FS/SS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Chris Jones P L. P. Ladouceur LS Reserve lists Kenneth Boatright DE (IR) Dez Bryant WR (IR) Barry Church SS (IR) Lance Dunbar RB (IR) Gavin Escobar TE (IR) David Irving DT/DE (IR) Terrell McClain DT (IR) Tony Romo QB (IR) Ryan Russell DE (IR) Orlando Scandrick CB (IR) Chris Whaley DT (IR)
Practice squad Derek Akunne OLB Donte Foster WR Buddy Jackson CB Antonio Johnson G Ben Malena RB Mike McAdoo DE Brandon McGee CB Efe Obada DE Keith Smith OLB Darrion Weems T
53 active, 11 inactive, 10 practice squad
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 13 at San Diego Chargers L 7–17 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 23 at San Francisco 49ers L 6–23 0–2 Levi's Stadium Recap 3 August 29 Minnesota Vikings L 14–28 0–3 AT&T Stadium Recap 4 September 3 Houston Texans W 21–14 1–3 AT&T Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 13 New York Giants W 27–26 1–0 AT&T Stadium Recap 2 September 20 at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–10 2–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 27 Atlanta Falcons L 28–39 2–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at New Orleans Saints L 20–26 2–2 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 5 October 11 New England Patriots L 6–30 2–3 AT&T Stadium Recap 6 Bye 7 October 25 at New York Giants L 20–27 2–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Seattle Seahawks L 12–13 2–5 AT&T Stadium Recap 9 November 8 Philadelphia Eagles L 27–33 2–6 AT&T Stadium Recap 10 November 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 6–10 2–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 22 at Miami Dolphins W 24–14 3–7 Sun Life Stadium Recap 12 November 26 Carolina Panthers L 14–33 3–8 AT&T Stadium Recap 13 at Washington Redskins W 19–16 4–8 FedExField Recap 14 December 13 at Green Bay Packers L 7–28 4–9 Lambeau Field Recap 15 New York Jets L 16–19 4–10 AT&T Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Buffalo Bills L 6–16 4–11 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Washington Redskins L 23–34 4–12 AT&T Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. New York Giants
The Cowboys opened the season at home against their rival, the New York Giants, led by the quarterback-receiver tandem of Eli Manning and young Odell Beckham Jr.
Tony Romo came back late in the fourth quarter and nailed the game-winning drive to Jason Witten to give Dallas a narrow 27-26 victory.
The victory, however, was bittersweet as Dez Bryant broke his foot in the second half. The injury required surgery and he was expected to miss 10–12 weeks. Cameras caught Bryant congratulating his teammates in the locker room after a close victory. Romo spoke on Bryant's injury: "You can't replace Dez Bryant." Three days later, the NFL came forward and apologized to the Giants for 2 blown calls. The first call led to a Cowboys touchdown due to a wrong pass interference call which set up the Cowboys on 1st and Goal on the 2 yard line, and the second was a blown defensive holding call which would have set up the Giants on first and goal with the Cowboys having no timeouts remaining and 1:36 left on the clock.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles