Wade Phillips Fired: Is This the Lowest Point in Dallas Cowboys History?

Head coach Wade Phillips was fired today, according to numerous media sources.

The move comes as little surprise to most Cowboys fans.

A season that began with Super Bowl predictions and high hopes has turned into one of the biggest disasters in the history of the franchise.

But just how bad are things in Dallas?

Is Phillips’ firing the nadir for this proud organization? Or have there been darker days in years past?

Here are five reasons why things are worse than ever right now, and five reasons why things aren’t quite so bad.

Why It’s Not so Bad 5: 1960

One of the most successful franchises in NFL history got off to an incredibly inauspicious start, if you’ll recall.

An 0-11-1 record in their first year, and the immortal Eddie LeBaron at quarterback, the Cowboys struggled to do anything at any point. They were easily one of the most inept franchises in NFL history at their inception.

At least the 2010 Cowboys have a win.

Why It’s the Worst 5: Wade Phillips

I’ve never seen anything like Wade Phillips’ situation in Dallas in all the years I’ve followed the NFL.

He was due to be fired after 2008, and again after 2009, and more or less every season during his tenure in Dallas.

Phillips stuck around solely because owner Jerry Jones could boss him around, and Phillips wouldn’t put up a fight.

For a franchise with a history of excellent coaches (Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and, yes, even Barry Switzer), Phillips is one of the lower points in their franchise’s history.

He was never a great coach, and was never quite the right fit in Dallas.

Why It’s Not so Bad 4: 1988

Remember 1988?

The Cowboys went 3-13, Steve Pueller was quarterback, and things weren’t looking all that great in Dallas.

This was one of the worst Cowboys teams of all time, and they were mired in a lengthy drought of winning seasons that sapped much of the energy from this proud franchise.

Why It’s the Worst 4: The Defense

The Cowboys’ defense has never been as vaunted as, say, Pittsburgh’s.

But Dallas has always been somewhat respectable.

In 2010, though, the Cowboys have been pushed around almost every time they’ve taken the field, and rank second-to-last in points allowed. For a team who was supposed to be strong defensively, that’s a colossal disappointment, and it could be the worst of all time.

Why It’s Not so Bad 3: Ryan Leaf

As bad as Jon Kitna’s been in 2010, remember, it could be worse.

Jerry Jones gave Leaf another shot in 2001. The former first-round flameout continued his rapid crash and burn, lasting just four games as a Cowboy.

Or maybe you remember Drew Henson? The former Michigan standout who left a baseball career to sign with the Cowboys in 2004.

He played all of one game, and parts of six others, before everyone realized how bad he was.

Why It’s the Worst 3: The Run Game

Coming into 2010, the Cowboys were supposed to have three running backs capable of shouldering a big workload, and the run game was one of the offense’s many strengths.

Fast forward to Week 9, and the Cowboys have been incapable of running the ball, behind a soft offensive line and running backs who cannot find the holes to run through. It’s been bad in Dallas before, but never this bad.

Why It’s Not so Bad 2: 1989

This team might be the worst in Cowboys’ history.

With rookie Troy Aikman starting 11 games—and craptastic Steve Walsh starting the other five—the Cowboys crashed to a 1-15 record, failing to show much of the promise they would fulfill just a season later.

In 1989, the Cowboys were flat-out awful. Things got better, but at the time, this was as bad as it got.

Why It’s the Worst 2: They’ve Never Done This Before

In the history of the franchise, a coach has never been fired during the regular season.

Jerry Jones prides himself on giving coaches a full season to save themselves before giving them the axe. Chan Gailey made it through two full seasons, Dave Campo made it to the end of his tenure.

But Phillips was fired midseason. What does that tell you about this year’s team?

Why It’s Not So Bad: The Dave Campo Era

Remember when Dave Campo was the head coach in Dallas?

Cowboys fans have been trying to forget, as well.

Three straight 5-11 seasons. Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter at quarterback.

Rocket Ismail, and despair across the Lone Star State.

These were dark days in Dallas, and they’re the biggest reason why this isn’t the low point in Cowboys history.

Why It’s the Worst 1: Expectations

Here’s the difference between 2010 and the other seasons listed on here: this was supposed to be the year Dallas returned to greatness.

A potent offense, a strong defense (last season, anyway), and good team chemistry were supposed to be what got them back to the promised land.

Instead, what we have is one of the biggest busts and disasters in NFL history. The Cowboys have bombed in every possible facet of the game, and haven’t looked remotely like Super Bowl contenders.

Because of the expectations they faced in 2010, this is by far the lowest point in team history.

Conclusion

While the Cowboys have had seasons and eras worse than the one we’re in right now, something feels different about 2010.

Maybe it’s the expectations and talent on this team, maybe it’s their giant stadium.

But whatever it is, this bout of losing feels different than the others; less expected, more contagious.

Cowboys ownership has said they don’t know how to fix what’s ailing this team. And when you combine that with the shock of losing so handily this year, it becomes clear that 2010 is the low point in Cowboys history.