It’s been 30 years since the Dallas Cowboys last played in a Super Bowl - a fact that’s etched into the memory of every fan who’s lived through the highs and lows since that 27-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. That was January 28, 1996.
Since then? Not a single trip back to the big stage.
Not even an NFC Championship Game appearance. In fact, over the past three decades, every other NFC team has at least reached conference championship weekend.
Except Dallas.
But while the Cowboys themselves have stayed home in late January and early February, plenty of their former players have found their way to Super Bowl rosters. That trend continues in Super Bowl 60 - though this time, it’s a one-sided affair. The Seattle Seahawks will take the field with a pair of ex-Cowboys, while the New England Patriots' active roster doesn’t feature any.
Let’s start with the most notable name: DeMarcus Lawrence.
The veteran defensive end is no stranger to Cowboys fans. Drafted 34th overall in 2014 out of Boise State, Lawrence spent 11 seasons in Dallas, where he built a reputation as one of the league’s most disruptive edge rushers. He earned four Pro Bowl nods during his time in Big D, including a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2017 - a season where he posted a career-high 14.5 sacks and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
But after a long run in Dallas without a deep playoff push, Lawrence made a bold move last offseason. He signed a three-year, $32.5 million deal with the Seahawks, and didn’t mince words about his motivation.
He said he needed a change - a real shot at a Super Bowl. That didn’t sit well with some Cowboys fans, but here we are: Lawrence is suiting up for Super Bowl 60, and Dallas is watching from home.
And make no mistake - he’s been a big reason why Seattle’s here. Lawrence has been a force all season long, racking up 53 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks, and three fumble recoveries - two of which he took to the house.
That kind of production doesn’t just show up on the stat sheet; it shifts momentum, flips fields, and wins games. He’s been every bit the impact player Seattle hoped for when they brought him in.
He’s not the only former Cowboy on the Seahawks’ roster, though. Backup tight end Eric Saubert also has a Dallas connection, albeit a brief one.
He appeared in a single regular-season game for the Cowboys in 2023 but didn’t record a reception. Still, he’s part of a Seattle team that’s found the right mix of experience and depth to make a title run.
And while we're talking connections, it’s worth mentioning Aden Durde, Seattle’s defensive coordinator. He got his NFL coaching start in Dallas, first as an intern in 2014 and 2015, then later as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach from 2021 to 2023. Now, he’s calling the shots for a Seahawks defense that’s playing its best football at the right time.
As for the Patriots, there’s not much Cowboy crossover. Linebacker Darius Harris - who played in four games for Dallas during the 2024 season - spent part of 2025 with New England but has been on the practice squad injured reserve since mid-November. So he won’t be suiting up on Sunday.
For Cowboys fans, this Super Bowl might feel like another reminder of what could’ve been. But for DeMarcus Lawrence, it’s a chance to validate his decision - and maybe, just maybe, bring home the ring that eluded him in Dallas.