Why were the Cowboys named "America's Team"?
 

I'm 31, born in '93, so I'm a younger guy compared to most of you. I never grew up with the Cowboys of the 90s.

Why exactly were they given this renowned title that has stuck with them throughout time? Clearly they were successful, but it's not like there weren't other dynasties before or after them. Heck, the Bulls of the 90s in that same exact era might be more famous than the Cowboys, and they were never given any famous monikers or anything like that.

There had to have been some zeitgeist or cultural relevance of the 90s that led to the "America's Team" name. Can anyone help me out?

EDIT: Okay sorry, apparently it started in the 70's. Shows how little I know.

the moniker started in the 70s

Marketing by Jerruh? shrug

What the hell? Now I'm even more confused.

Because of that first hot cheerleader who winked at the broadcast crew.

Believe it originated from Debbie, when she did America after she did Dallas

they were almost as successful in the 70's as they were in the 90's.

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During the Cowboys' 1979 season opener against the then-St. Louis Cardinals, legendary broadcaster Pat Summerall, who was calling the game for CBS, referred to Dallas as America's Team, and, for better or worse, it's been a thing ever since. Well not so much these days. (The Dallas Cowboys have 4 wins in the playoffs between January 19, 2000 and January 19, 2025.)

Started with this 1978 highlight


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The South American drug tunnels opened under most Cowboy players bathroom vanities

This is the right answer. NFL films produced a season highlight film for every team in those days that was supposed to make everyone think that their team could have won the Super Bowl if only they got a break or two.

At the time the Cowboys were a popular team in other markets, or at least more so than any other team aside from whatever the local team was. So, NFL films titled the Cowboys yearbook highlight film "America's Team."

I believe it started after the outpouring of sympathy they got when JR was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. People loved that show.

Know why they got so much airtime?
The new skimpy uniforms at the 76 SB.