The Dallas Cowboys, hailed as “America’s Team,” have long been a cornerstone of NFL culture. Their passionate fan base stretches far beyond Texas, with supporters scattered across the globe. Five Super Bowl victories and eight conference championships speak to their historical dominance. But the winds of change have blown through the NFL since the Cowboys’ last championship in 1995. This prolonged drought has led some to question whether the team still deserves its place among sports’ elite franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, and Boston Celtics.
Former NBA champion, Paul Pierce, recently voiced his doubts on FOX Sports’ “SPEAK.” He pointed out that while teams like the Lakers, Yankees, and Celtics have all tasted victory in the past decade, the Cowboys have been left behind. “The tradition is almost being forgotten about,” Pierce argued. “Nobody has done it since your time. Where did it go? Where is the tradition? Y’all the tradition. Just You (Michael Irvin), Emmitt, and Aikman are the tradition.”
.@paulpierce34: The Cowboys aren’t in the same category as the Lakers, Celtics, and Yankees.
“The tradition is almost being forgotten about… Nobody has done it since your time. You [@michaelirvin88], Emmitt, and Aikman are the tradition.” pic.com/EfoBjMQJFP
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) September 18, 2024
Pierce’s words suggest that the Cowboys now rely more on their brand than on-field success. Even Cowboys legend Michael Irvin found himself reluctantly agreeing with Pierce’s assessment. Irvin even slightly urged his former team to reclaim their glory and live up to their storied past. The 1990s saw the Cowboys at their peak, clinching three Super Bowls in just four years. This era, marked by a sense of unity and purpose, has become the yardstick against which modern Cowboys teams are measured. While the current squad remains competitive, they’ve yet to replicate that level of sustained excellence.
