During the 1990s, the Dallas Cowboys were the most dominant team in the NFL. Since then, they’ve had quite a bit of success in the regular season but have fallen short of the ultimate goal — a sixth Super Bowl trophy.

Not only have they been unable to win the title, but they haven’t even made it back to the NFC Championship Game since winning their last Lombardi Trophy following the 1995 season.

It can be difficult to look back over the years, but it’s still worth a trip down memory lane.

With that in mind, here’s a ranking of the past ten seasons, which proves not everything has been awful in Big D.

After falling short in 2014, the Cowboys went into the 2015 campaign ready to turn the page. They made a massive change at running back, letting DeMarco Murray leave in free agency and turning to Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden. Randle was released after six games due to off-field issues, but McFadden proved a free-agency steal with 1,089 yards on the year.

Unfortunately, his performance was among the few bright spots during a dark season. Tony Romo missed 12 games, and the team was 1-11 without him. Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden, and Kellen Moore all struggled to replace him, as the offense was 31st in the league in scoring.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, this was the same year they brought in Greg Hardy after Carolina moved on following some heinous accusations. Not only was this the Cowboys’ worst over the past decade, but it was also clouded by some terrible decisions.

For a decade, Dallas fans were clamoring for Jerry Jones to give up on Jason Garrett, and they finally got their wish ahead of the 2020 season. Jones didn’t cast a wide net, however, which frustrated fans over hiring Mike McCarthy. The former Super Bowl-winning coach has had his share of success but hasn’t been an elite coach in years.

Still, he was better than Garrett so hopes were high — or at least higher than they were in 2019.

Those hopes were quickly dashed when Mike Nolan proved to be in over his head as the defensive coordinator. Dallas gave up 20 points in a Week 1 loss to the Rams and then surrendered 39 to Atlanta, 38 to Seattle, 49 to Cleveland, 34 to the Giants, and 38 to Arizona.

Their offense had to do a lot of heavy lifting, but they were still just 2-3 entering Week 6 and had to turn to Andy Dalton after Dak Prescott suffered a broken ankle in the win over New York. Dalton played admirably, but the defense was never going to win without an MVP-caliber performance from their signal-caller, which led to a 6-10 disappointment.

After going 13-3 in 2016, hopes were high for the Cowboys in 2017. Sadly, they couldn’t live up to the hype.

Off-field accusations put a dark cloud over Ezekiel Elliott, who was suspended for six games. He appealed the suspension, which allowed the issue to drag on throughout the year. With Zeke out for six games, Dak Prescott struggled and had 13 picks — after putting up four as a rookie.

There was also the infamous loss to Atlanta, where he was sacked six times by Adrian Clayborn.

Dallas had a winning record but missed the playoffs in a forgettable season.

As is the case with Mike McCarthy in 2024, Jason Garrett entered the 2019 season without a contract beyond that year. He was coming off a 10-6 campaign but again lost in the second round of the playoffs.

Instead of moving on and finding someone who could push them over the hump, the Jones family tried pushing Garrett by essentially threatening his job.

That backfired, as the head coach seemed on edge all season, and the team that typically fought hard for him didn’t have their normal fire. They started 3-0 out of the gate but then dropped three games between Weeks 4 through 6.

A three-game losing streak covering Weeks 12 through 14 doomed their season.

In the end, the only good thing from the 2019 campaign is that it finally signaled the end of Garrett’s tenure, which covered a very long 10 seasons.

There were many positives in 2023, including Dak Prescott finishing second in the NFL in MVP voting. They also saw CeeDee Lamb set a franchise record with 1,749 yards through the air while leading the NFL in receptions with 135.

The most exciting factor in 2023, however, was their 8-0 record at home. One of the most dominant home teams, the Cowboys’ defense made life miserable for everyone who walked into AT&T Stadium—until it really mattered.

Dallas earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC and hosted the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers. They should have been able to move into the second round of the playoffs but were blown out at home, 48-32. Sadly, that score makes it seem closer than it was.

Their inability to stop the run and the two interceptions from Prescott left us all with a bad taste in our mouths from what should have been a memorable campaign.

The 2018 season started out incredibly frustratingly. The Cowboys had just released Dez Bryant and entered the season with a receiving corps consisting of Michael Gallup, Allen Hurns, and Cole Beasley. As expected, this was hard to watch.

Thankfully, they traded for Amari Cooper, who ultimately turned the offense around. Dallas started 3-5, but once Cooper was comfortable, they began to roll. They won five games in a row from Week 10 through Week 14 and then reeled off two more to close the season at 10-6.

They then hosted the Seattle Seahawks and knocked them off in a 24-22 contest. Their season ended at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round but they were happy to get that far following the frustrating start.

The Cowboys turned the page on a frustrating 2020 campaign with another strong performance in 2021. This time, they shook off a poor start to the season, which saw them lose by two points to the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After that, Dallas ripped off six wins in a row, including a thriller over the Minnesota Vikings that saw Cooper Rush hit Amari Cooper for a game-winning touchdown.

Dallas won 12 games while Dak Prescott dropped 37 touchdown passes, and CeeDee Lamb hauled in 1,102 yards receiving. They also had Micah Parsons win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up 13 sacks.

A loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round put a damper on an otherwise fun season, which is sadly a theme in Big D.

Once again, the Cowboys started the season with a loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs. This time, they were blown out 19-3, and they had injury added to insult with Dak Prescott getting hurt in the loss. Dallas had to turn to Cooper Rush for the next five games, and while he led them to a win in his only start in 2021, things felt bleak.

That feeling didn’t last long, as Rush led them to four straight wins, including victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams, who had both been in the Super Bowl the previous year. His final start was a loss to the Eagles, but that 4-1 stretch kept hope alive.

There were ups and downs throughout the season, including Prescott leading the league with 15 picks, but they still went 12-4. They also pulled off one of the more exciting playoff wins in recent memory when they knocked off Tom Brady and the Bucs 31-14 in what proved to be Brady’s final game.

Another loss to the 49ers followed that, making this season feel hollow as well.

This season ended in absolute heartache, but that’s only because the team was so promising. The 2014 Cowboys roster was loaded with talent, and they went 6-1 down the stretch to steal the NFC East away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tony Romo had one of his best seasons with 34 touchdowns and just nine picks while completing 69.9 percent of his attempts. Dez Bryant was also on a roll, with 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns. Defensively, there weren’t many star players, but their talent collection did enough to keep them in games.

As good as their roster was, it was DeMarco Murray who led the way. Murray rushed for 1,845 yards, which led the NFL, and scored 13 touchdowns. He added another 416 yards on 57 receptions, proving to be a dominant force. However, he had a late fumble in the Divisional Round that gave the Green Bay Packers life in a game Dallas had been in control of.

They should have taken the lead back when Bryant caught a pass on fourth down, took two steps, switched the ball to his dominant left hand, and dove for the end zone. Somehow, the refs decided he never made a football move and claimed the catch was no good since the ball bounced out of his hands when Dez hit the turf.

This was their best chance at winning a Super Bowl since the 1990s, and the ref’s inexcusable call led to a disheartening loss. Even with that, it was a fantastic season for America’s Team.

2016 remains arguably Dallas’ best season over the past decade. Not only did they have their best record, 13-3, but they far exceeded expectations.

On the heels of a 4-12 campaign, Dallas selected Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick. They also took Dak Prescott at No. 135, hoping to groom him behind Tony Romo. Considered a raw prospect, Prescott had no time to develop since Romo and his backup, Kellen Moore were injured in the preseason.

Prescott took the lead and never looked like a rookie. He completed 67.8 percent of his attempts for 3,667 yards with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for his efforts and called his teammate, Elliott, to the stage with him. Zeke had 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, and Prescott admitted his performance made life easy for the signal-caller.

Dallas could not advance in the playoffs, losing 34-31 to the Packers, but even that loss was exciting. Down 21-3 at one point, Dallas tied it up at 31 with 35 seconds to play. A miraculous pass from Aaron Rodgers and a 51-yard field goal from Mason Crosby ended their hopes, but it was evident they had their future stars on offense.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

NHL free agency: a period where every hockey fan has to regularly ask themselves, “Who’s on my team again?”

Don’t fret. We’re here to help keep track of who the Dallas Stars are signing, re-signing and letting walk in free agency this offseason.

This will be updated as new information becomes available.

Who have the Stars signed?

D Matt Dumba

The 30-year-old signed a two-year deal worth $3.75 million value annually. Dumba spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being dealt by Arizona at the trade deadline.

D Ilya Lyubushkin

Lyubushkin, who played for the Maple Leafs in parts of two of the past three seasons, agreed to a three-year, $3.25 million AAV deal with Dallas.

D Brendan Smith

Smith’s one-year contract is worth $1 million. The 35-year-old most recently played for New Jersey and has played both defenseman and forward in his career.

G Casey DeSmith

DeSmith signed a three-year deal through 2026-27 worth $1 million annually, and he figures to be the new backup to Jake Oettinger.

D Kyle Capobianco

The former Manitoba Moose and the AHL’s top scoring defenseman last season was signed to a two-year deal in which the first year is a two-way contract and the second year is a one-way worth $775,000.

F Kole Lind

Lind, who was signed to a one-year, two-way contract, helped the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, the affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, to back-to-back Calder Cup finals.

F Cameron Hughes

Hughes, who also played for the Firebirds, received a one-year, two-way contract from the Stars after a 25-goal season in Coachella Valley.

Who have the Stars re-signed?

F Sam Steel

Restricted free agent forward Sam Steel did not receive a qualifying offer on Sunday, making him an unrestricted free agent Monday at 11 a.m. But just 90 minutes later, the Stars announced they re-signed the fourth-line forward to a one-year contract for the 2024-25 season. The deal is worth $1.2 million.

D Nils Lundkvist

The Stars re-signed defenseman Nils Lundkvist to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The 23-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Dallas after a blockbuster trade ahead of the 2022-23 season, in which the Stars sacrificed a 2023 first-round draft pick to the New York Rangers. In 119 regular-season games in Dallas, Lundkvist hasn’t lived up to expectations, scoring just 35 points despite being known for his offensive ability.

F Matt Duchene

The Stars announced they re-signed Duchene to a one-year, $3 million deal, the same deal he signed to join Dallas’ roster last season. The unrestricted free agent will return to Dallas in the fall for his second year.

D Alexander Petrovic

The Stars signed defenseman Alexander Petrovic to a two-year, two-way contract last Friday. The 32-year-old appeared in one regular-season game and seven playoff games for the Stars last season. Petrovic spent most of last season with the Texas Stars, where he had 22 points in 70 games.

F Oskar Back

Drafted with Dallas’ third-round pick in 2018, Back scored 36 points, seven goals and 29 assists, in 59 regular-season games in Cedar Park, with an additional five points in seven Calder Cup games. His new two-way contract is worth $775,000, and he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

F Matej Blumel

Blumel signed a two-way deal for the 2024-25 season. In his second AHL season, the 24-year-old led Texas in goals (31) and ranked second in points (62) in 72 regular-season games.

F Emilio Pettersen

Pettersen, who also signed a two-way deal for next season, split the 2023-24 AHL season between the Calgary Wranglers and the Texas Stars. The 24-year-old posted 30 points (7 goals, 23 assists) in 54 games with Calgary before he was acquired by Dallas via trade on March 7.

Who’s leaving?

D Chris Tanev

Just 124 days after the Stars traded for the 34-year-old right-handed defenseman, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed him to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million.

The Stars traded the rights to Tanev to Toronto on Saturday during the second day of the NHL draft after it became apparent that Jim Nill and his staff would not be able to re-sign him.

F Craig Smith

The Blackhawks announced Monday afternoon they had signed the former Dallas Stars forward to a one-year, $1 million deal when free agency opened. Smith was acquired by Dallas in free agency last year after splitting the 2022-23 season between Boston and Washington. He appeared in 75 regular season games and recorded 20 points on Dallas’ fourth line.

D Jani Hakanpaa

Hakanpää reportedly signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ending his three-year stint in Dallas after a difficult season.

The Finnish defenseman played the fewest games since becoming a mainstay of the Stars’ lineup in the 2021-22 season — appearing in just 64 in the regular season and none in the playoffs after dealing with injury.

G Scott Wedgewood

The 31-year-old backup goaltender agreed to a two-year, $1.5 million AAV deal with the Nashville Predators. Despite being a good fit, the Stars and Wedgewood’s team couldn’t agree to new contract ahead of his previous one expiring Monday. He sought a raise that Dallas wouldn’t deliver on.

F Ty Dellandrea

The Stars traded forward Ty Dellandrea to the Sharks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft, though Dellandrea, who was set to become a free agent, is not yet under contract for the 2024-25 season.

Who’s left to sign?

D Thomas Harley

The Stars extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent defenseman Thomas Harley Sunday. By doing so, Dallas retains negotiating rights for the young blue-liner.

Harley was due for the biggest raise among Dallas’ RFAs and the most likely candidate for an offer sheet. The 22-year-old defenseman recorded 47 points (15 goals and 32 assists) as a top-pairing defenseman for Dallas last year despite making an average annual salary of $7.6 million less than his partner Miro Heiskanen. His negotiation could also be the most complicated.

F Max Ellis

The Stars received Ellis, who was not under contract for 2024-25 but over whom Dallas retained negotiating rights, from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Chris Tanev’s negotiating rights. The 5-foot-9, 166-pound forward did not receive a qualifying offer by Sunday, making him a free agent. The 24-year-old notched 14 points in 36 regular-season games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies last season.

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Another Californian is packing up and leaving for Texas.

Say what you will about residential relocation motives, but in terms of sports, it’s a storied and strange pipeline that Klay Thompson will enter July 6 when he can officially sign the deal.

Thompson is certainly not the first nor will he be the last Bay Area sports legend to take his career to the Lone Star State.

After arriving as a 2011 first-round pick and helping shoot the Warriors to four NBA titles, Thompson is reportedly leaving in free agency for the Dallas Mavericks. He’s scoring a three-year, $50 million deal.

That money could go a long way almost anywhere. So, Texas? Ugh.

“Trade nothing to Dallas ever,” Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young tweeted last summer, when the 49ers shipped 2021 draft bust Trey Lance to the Cowboys.

Yes, the 49ers-Cowboys rivalry is on a more championship-laden level than the Warriors-Mavs, the Giants-Rangers, the A’s-Rangers, the Sharks-Stars and the Earthquakes-FC Dallas feuds.

Then again, the Warriors did beat the Mavericks in the 2022 Western Conference Finals — and Thompson scored 32 points while shooting 8-of-16 from 3-point range in that close-out Game 5 — en route to their fourth NBA championship with him, Steph Curry and Draymond Green as their legendary trifecta.

Any California export to Texas can merit a cringe. State taxes surely couldn’t have swayed Thompson, who made over $266 million in his Warriors career. Heading down to Dallas is easier to digest from a rivalry standpoint than heading south to the Los Angeles Lakers, for whom his father played and now calls games on radio.

Here are three notable Bay Area-to-Dallas moves over the years from each of the major men’s pro franchises, with apologies for overlooking an old-timer or two, and for excluding players whose career had a layover elsewhere before arriving in Dallas:

WARRIORS

Harrison Barnes 2012-16 Warriors, ’16-19 Mavericks

Erick Dampier 1997-2004 Warriors, ’04-10 Mavericks

Antawn Jamison 1998-03 Warriors, ’03-04 Mavericks

49ERS

Deion Sanders 1994 49ers, 1995-99

Charles Haley 1996-91 49ers, 1992-96 Cowboys, ’98-99 49ers after 1-year retirement in 1997

J.D. Smith 1956-64, Cowboys 1965-66

*Hall of Famer Terrell Owens spent 2004-05 with the Eagles between stints with the 49ers (1996-2003) and Cowboys (2006-07)

GIANTS

Will Clark 1986-93 Giants, ’94-98 Rangers

Bengie Molina 2007-10 Giants, 2010 Rangers

Hunter Pence 2012-18 Giants, 2019 Rangers, ’20 Giants

ATHLETICS

Jose Canseco 1985-92 A’s, ’92-94 Rangers

Bert Campaneris 1968-76 A’s, ’77-79 Rangers

Claudell Washington 1974-76 A’s, ’77-78 Rangers

SHARKS

Joe Pavelski 2006-19 Sharks, 2019-24 Stars

Antti Niemi 2010-15 Sharks, 2015-17 Stars

Artus Irbe 1991-96 Sharks, 1996-97 Stars

*Hall of Famer Ed Belfour had a 1996-97 stint with the Sharks before playing five seasons with the Stars, making four All-Star appearances for them and winning the 1999 Stanley Cup.

EARTHQUAKES

Arturo Alvarez 2003-04 Earthquakes, ’05-08 FC Dallas, ’08-10 Earthquakes

Richard Mulrooney 1999-2004 Earthquakes, 2005-06 FC Dallas

Atiba Harris 2014 Earthquakes, 2015-17 FC Dallas

*Assisting with this research were former FC Dallas coach Marco Ferruzzi and former pro player Josh McKay, the latter of whom runs McKay’s Beer Garden in Pleasanton.

**While they didn’t go to Dallas, the Earthquakes franchise essentially relocated in 2006 to become the Houston Dynamo, only for an expansion franchise to return in 2008 with the Quakes name. In 2009, Chris Wondolowski came back to his native Bay Area and became MLS’s all-time leading scorer before retiring in 2021. Also, the Earthquakes recently fired coach Luchi Gonzalez, who formerly was FC Dallas’ coach.