2021 Dallas Cowboys season | |
---|---|
Owner | Jerry Jones |
General manager | Jerry Jones |
Head coach | Mike McCarthy |
Offensive coordinator | Kellen Moore |
Defensive coordinator | Dan Quinn |
Home field | AT&T Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–5 |
Division place | 1st NFC East |
Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. 49ers) 17–23 |
Pro Bowlers | 6 |
All-Pros | 4
|
Uniform | |
The 2021 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 62nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 33rd under the ownership of Jerry Jones, and their 13th playing home games at AT&T Stadium.
For the first time since 2004, long-time long snapper L. P. Ladouceur was not on the opening day roster, as he was not re-signed during free agency.[1] This was also the first time since 2010 that long-time punter Chris Jones was not on the opening day roster, as he was released on March 17, 2021.[2] To further add to the notable departures, for the first time since 2011, defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement on March 25, 2021.[3] Additionally, for the first time since 2009, linebacker Sean Lee was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement on April 26, 2021.[4]
With their Week 10 win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Cowboys improved on their 6–10 record from the previous season. With their Week 14 win against the Washington Football Team, the Cowboys clinched their first winning season since 2018, and with the San Francisco 49ers' Week 16 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Cowboys clinched their first playoff berth also since 2018. Following a Denver Broncos' loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Cowboys clinched the NFC East, based on strength-of-victory tiebreakers; this was their first division title since 2018. They swept the NFC East for the first time since 1998. The Cowboys' strong offense finished the year with 530 points, the most in the league, and a team record. But despite high expectations, the Cowboys lost in the wild card round of the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers 23–17.
On July 2, 2021, the Cowboys were announced to be featured on HBO's Hard Knocks for the third time in franchise history.[5]