Michael Irvin is putting the Cowboys on the clock.
With Dallas less than two weeks from opening the season on the road against the New York Giants, the Hall of Fame wide receiver said the franchise has to get back to the championship stage if it wants to keep carrying the “America’s Team” label.
“We cannot remain America's Team if a whole generation of Americans never see us in a championship game,” said Irvin, per Awful Announcing on X, formerly Twitter.
The comment lands with the Cowboys once again carrying real expectations into a season. Dallas spent the offseason revamping its defense while keeping most of its offense intact, and there’s at least a case to be made that this roster is built to win plenty of games right away.
That’s especially true if Dak Prescott can keep rolling after what the source described as MVP-adjacent play a year ago. On paper, Dallas has the kind of offensive core that can matter in the NFC East, and the additions on defense are meant to patch over a unit that was awful last season.
Among those moves, the Cowboys used one of their two first-round picks on Caleb Downs and also kept Quinnen Williams around for the long haul.
Still, Irvin’s point is bigger than one season. The Cowboys’ dynasty years with Irvin and Emmitt Smith are long gone, and for plenty of younger fans, Dallas has been more of a punch line than a powerhouse. That’s exactly why the pressure feels so intense now: if the Cowboys are going to keep the brand that comes with “America’s Team,” they need to show it on the field fast.
Dallas opens the season September 13 in New York.
In Other News...
Cowboys Jersey Changes Hint At A Surprise Roster Twist
The Cowboys offseason roster churn has already produced a few small but telling details, and jersey numbers are part of that picture. Six players have switched numbers heading into the 2026 season after landing on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, a reminder that the back end of the roster can change just as quickly as the depth chart itself. Among the more notable tweaks are wide receiver Camden Brown and defensive lineman Tyus Wheat, two players whose paths onto the team were not exactly penciled in early.
Von Millers number situation has added a little extra intrigue, too. The veteran edge rusher is trying to work out a deal with fullback Hunter Luepke for No. 40, with the two sides already haggling over unusual incentives like free chicken and even a tattoo. The negotiations are still ongoing, and while it is only a jersey number on paper, it has turned into one more sign that the Cowboys newest roster twist might not be as straightforward as it first looked. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cheerleader Pay Debate Is Hitting Fans For One Big Reason
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have long been one of the most recognizable parts of the franchise, but fresh attention on their pay is reminding fans how different their compensation is from the stars they help put in the spotlight. Recent reporting, along with disclosures made in a Netflix series, has put a number on what the cheerleaders can earn, and the contrast with the Cowboys highest-paid players is hard to miss.
According to those reports, the cheerleaders can make up to $2,500 per game, with estimates putting seasonal earnings in the $50,000 to $75,000 range after a reported hourly rate increase to $75. For plenty of fans, the debate is not really about whether the job carries prestige or visibility, but whether a group so closely tied to the brand and game-day experience should be paid more than they are now. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys May Have Found A Back Kansas City Let Slip Away
The Cowboys added a familiar kind of depth move this week, claiming running back Emari Demercado off waivers after Kansas City cut him loose. It is the sort of transaction that barely registers outside roster-watch circles, but it caught attention because Andy Reid had spoken highly of Demercado, and because some around the league saw a player with traits that fit a more layered backfield than the one he left behind.
For Dallas, the appeal is obvious. Demercado is expected to compete for a meaningful rotational role and brings the kind of pass protection and efficient running style that can help a staff trust him in multiple situations. Whether the Cowboys uncovered a useful piece or simply got to the line first, they have a runner with a profile that could matter once the offense starts sorting out its pecking order. [Read more 🡒]