The Dallas Cowboys roped the moniker “America’s Team” decades ago, and they’ve been riding it ever since.
But the Cowboys who brought that nickname to life were real American heroes such as quarterback Roger Staubach, wideouts Drew Pearson and Golden Richards and defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones. Perhaps most famous of all was longtime coach Tom Landry, who attracted his own following as a revered figure in a suit and hat who strolled the sidelines.
These days, the shine is off the Cowboys’ star.
Staubach led a multitude of players whom fans of other teams rarely rooted against.
The latest version of the Cowboys doesn’t feature the national-hero-type players or coaches who draw the respect and adoration of football viewers.
Sure, according to numerous sites, the ’Boys still top the list of most valuable franchises in the world. But a larger portion of the world loves to hate-watch the team. In fact, the majority of fans of other teams would likely rather bet and lose money than see the Cowboys snag another championship banner.
The current concept of America’s Team is fluid. It’s no longer one entity. It develops over the course of each season and can suddenly flip because of one or two standout plays in the postseason.
There are probably differing definitions of America’s Team, but let’s agree to describe it as a squad that has a likeable quarterback, a revered coach, and players most fans nationwide root for—when they’re not playing against their favorite team—in a playoff scenario. That formula fit the Detroit Lions last season.
They had a boy-next-door quarterback in Jared Goff, whom the Los Angeles Rams tossed aside and dealt away for Matthew Stafford. They featured the “People’s Champ” in hard-nosed coach Dan Campbell, who stepped into the national conversation with an unforgettable introductory press conference during which he barked about biting kneecaps and building a team that would continue to hit until there was nothing left to give.
Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown gained respect from the league for his toughness and clutch catches, and the Lions also earned the pity vote as a lovable loser that had not won a playoff game in 32 years, much less a Super Bowl. But the Lions overcame the postseason hurdle last season, edging the Rams 24-23 in the wild-card round in January. They are still in the running to hold the America’s Team label this season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals and the Rams could also be America’s Team this season. Jacksonville features golden boy quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has the look and swag to be a national hero. But they need players to step up, not just in fantasy football, but in ways that make a difference on the scoreboard.
The Rams have Stafford, a young energetic coach in Sean McVay, the likable Cooper Kupp and the fantasy superstar Puka Nacua to go with a winning pedigree after their triumph in Super Bowl LVI.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow already has cachet in the public eye, winning the 2019 national title with Louisiana State University. But Cincinnati lacks the well-regarded coach and someone else on the roster needs to turn the public in his favor.
There are a couple of fringe candidates. One is the Chicago Bears, who have just one championship in their history, capturing Super Bowl XX in the 1985 season. Over decades of potential winners and playoff runs cut short, the Bears have been mostly on the outside looking in. But Caleb Williams, top pick in the draft this year, has been proclaimed as sure-fire a hit as the chance of seeing blood on an episode of “Chicago Med.” The Bears are also said to have the kind of roster to make a run, but they lack other personalities to draw eyes from supporters of other teams.
The San Francisco 49ers also have a strong case with “Mr. Irrelevant”—the last player taken in the NFL draft—in quarterback Brock Purdy, and the franchise resume of a champion. The fan base, however, can be insufferable, win or lose, and the likeable figures such as quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young, and Jerry Rice and Dwight Clark—along with a lengthy list of popular coaches—are long gone.
Most of the remaining teams get ticked off the list without much consideration. Among that group is the Kansas City Chiefs. No longer is quarterback Patrick Mahomes a breath of fresh air like he and the team were when they challenged Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in an eventual 37-31 loss in overtime in the 2019 AFC championship game. K.C.’s Andy Reid is a role model among coaches, but Travis Kelce’s romance with pop superstar Taylor Swift is seen as both fan repellent and fan magnet.
Brady fatigue had much of the football-watching community turned off when the Chiefs lost that playoff game, and it works in reverse now as the two-time reigning Super Bowl-champion Chiefs, who topped the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 on Thursday Night Football to open the season, are now the kings of the mountain. But fans are likely looking for something other than an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat.
Another ineligible is the New York Jets, a team that can forget about gaining sympathy cheers from the football-following public. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back from an Achilles tear, and yet, his arrogance and actions remain firmly in the memories of NFL lovers. Other teams that aren’t bland or haven’t yet done enough to draw the adoration of the public have a chance to grab the moniker, the Houston Texans included.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, with all the contract issues and annoying distractions, generate conversation, but they seem to be leaving the America’s Team conversation on the horse they rode in on.
