The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League joined the league as an expansion team in 1960. Since then, they have been successful on and off the field and have enjoyed a large following in the state of Texas, the United States in general and internationally as well. Since their inception, the Dallas Cowboys have also enjoyed a rivalry with the Washington Redskins of the NFL. It’s a rivalry that is considered one of the best in all of sports, continues to this day and is a very important part of the history of the Dallas Cowboys.

Clint Murchison, a Texas oil tycoon, wanted to bring an NFL team to the state of Texas, but he didn’t seem to be having much success. In 1958 he heard that Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall was eager to sell his team. However, Murchison struck a deal for the team, just as the deal was about to be finalized, Marshall changed the terms, and a furious Murchison called off the deal altogether. This was the precursor to what would soon become a major sports rivalry.

Meanwhile, after a series of events, Murchison purchased the rights to the Redskins fight song, “Hail to the Redskins” from the songwriter (and Redskins bandleader), who had had a falling out with Marshall. The $2,500 Murchison paid for the rights would prove to be much more valuable.

Since Murchison was having no luck buying a team, he decided to start his own. A proposal for an expansion team was submitted to the owners of the National Football League. For the expansion team to become a reality, it would have to have the unanimous approval of the owners. He just so happened that all the owners accepted the expansion team except one, George Preston Marshall. However, when Marshall found out that Murchison had bought the rights to the Redskins’ fight song, his mind changed and a deal was struck. In exchange for Marshall’s approval of the expansion team, Murchison returned the song. Cowboy football became a reality and a rivalry was born.

When the Cowboys joined the league, they were in a separate conference from the Redskins and played only once during the season. In 1961 they were placed in the same division and have met twice each regular season ever since. A rivalry that had its beginnings behind the scenes soon found itself on the court and by 1972 the rivalry was in full swing. That year, the two teams met in the NFC championship game. The Redskins emerged victorious and went on to claim the Super Bowl victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Two other notable big games between the two rivals occurred in more recent times. In 2005, with the Dallas Cowboys dominating the game and leading the game 13-0 with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Washington Redskins came back scoring two game-winning touchdowns. In 2006, the two rivals played one of the craziest games in their history – the game “The Hand of God”. With the game tied and only 31 seconds left, the Redskins missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. Then the Cowboys worked their way into field goal range. With only seconds left, the 35-yard field goal was blocked. The run from the recovered block along with a face mask penalty imposed on the Cowboys provided the Redskins with another field goal attempt at the 47-yard line with no time remaining. In this attempt, the Redskins were good and claimed victory.

Between them, the Cowboys and Redskins have won thirty-one NFC East Division championships and eight Super Bowls. The Cowboys lead the Redskins in the latter category after having won the title of Super Bowl Champions five times. The overall record between these two rivalries consists of 55 Dallas wins, 36 Washington wins, and two ties. The Redskins have beaten the Cowboys twice in postseason games.

Sports rivalries are serious business that, once established, take on a life of their own. The rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins has sparked great competition and resulted in great success for both teams over a span of forty-seven years. It’s a rivalry that is sure to continue for another forty years, and counting, as new generations of Cowboys and Redskins fans continue the fight.