Before a single snap, before any bone-jarring tackle, the legendary rivalry between the Cowboys and Commanders didn’t even start on the field. It exploded in a courtroom. These two teams have been clashing since the Cowboys joined the league in 1960, fueling a deep hate between the franchises and their fan bases that has burned from their 70s, 80s, and 90s heyday right up to today.
The Song, The Grudge, and How Dallas Was Born
Talk about a twisted origin story, right? Back in 1958, every single one of the then-12 NFL teams voted for expansion, except one: Washington. Their owner, George Preston Marshall, was absolutely furious about it. Why? Because Washington was the southernmost team at the time, and Marshall saw the entire southeastern U.S. as his turf, his audience. The last thing he wanted was some new NFL team in Texas messing with that. Then Clint Murchison Jr., a Texas oilman, tried to buy the Washington franchise, but that fell through. Murchison didn’t give up though, he just got sneakier. Marshall was the biggest roadblock to Murchison getting a team in Texas, since NFL owners needed to unanimously approve expansion. So, Murchison pulled a move straight out of a spy novel: he bought the rights to Washington’s rallying cry song from band director Barnee Breeskin, who apparently wasn’t on great terms with Marshall. Murchison then pledged to give Marshall the song rights back, only if he voted for expansion and a team in Dallas. Marshall had no choice. He obliged, and just like that, the Cowboys were born in 1960. Wild, isn’t it?
Landry’s Cowboys Laid the Smack Down (Until Washington Fought Back)
If you ever wondered why somebody might just *despise* the Cowboys, Washington coach George Allen had plenty of reasons during his 1971-77 tenure. Dallas coach Tom Landry eventually built a transcendent 4-3 defense, featuring Hall of Famers like Bob Lilly, Randy White, and Chuck Howley, plus a dazzling offensive core. Once that machine got rolling, the Cowboys became an absolute force. And man, did they hammer Washington. After a relatively even start to the all-time series in the early-to-mid-1960s, Dallas absolutely swept the season series against Washington from 1968-70. They went on to win eight of ten games against their rival all the way through the 1972 regular season. To pour salt in the wound, Dallas even beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, snagging a title before the team whose owner literally tried to block their entry into the league. But hey, Washington got a moment, a precious blip on Dallas’s radar. In 1972, the season after Dallas’s Super Bowl triumph, Washington blasted the Cowboys 26-3 in the NFC Championship Game to punch their ticket to Super Bowl VII. Roger Staubach was there, but it didn’t matter. Washington out-gained Dallas in total yards 316-169. Miami went on to beat Washington in that Super Bowl, completing the only perfect season in NFL history at 17-0, but that NFC Championship win? Pure gold for Washington fans.
Now, this Sunday afternoon, the Cowboys are hosting the Commanders at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. This isn’t just another game. This is a continuation of a bitter rivalry, born in a courtroom and fueled by decades of on-field battles. It’s going to be must-watch football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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