Raiders & Cowboys: Owner Control and Super Bowl Droughts
For decades, the Raiders and Cowboys have faced struggles due to the tight control of their legendary owners, Al Davis and Jerry Jones, following lawsuits with the NFL. Due to their refusal to delegate, questionable decisions, and coaching instability, long-term dysfunction resulted in the derailing of two iconic franchises.
Courtesy of NFL.com
In NFL history, two franchises are iconic: the Las Vegas Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. The league was once dominated by both organizations, with multiple Super Bowl championships and passionate fan bases. Since the mid-1980s for the Raiders and the mid-1990s for the Cowboys, both teams have gone through long periods without winning the Lombardi Trophy.
The decline is a result of their legendary but controversial owners, Al Davis of the Raiders and Jerry Jones of the Cowboys. The NFL’s highly publicized lawsuits and battles with both men strengthened their reputations as maverick owners. The lawsuits did not cause the real damage; instead, their increased control over football operations led to it, along with their refusal to delegate authority and the ensuing culture of instability.
The Raiders’ Post-Lawsuit Decline Under Al Davis
The Raiders’ leader, Al Davis, was always prepared for confrontation. His role as an influential figure who could bend the NFL to his will was reinforced by his lawsuits against the NFL in the 1980s. Davis became more insular, combative, and determined to handle all aspects of the franchise himself after these victories.
Refusal to Hire a General Manager: Unlike most NFL teams that relied on skilled general managers, Davis retained sole control of personnel decisions. This narrowed perspective often resulted in questionable draft picks, prioritizing speed and spectacle over football fundamentals.
Coaching Instability: Davis was notorious for clashing with coaches, none more famously than Jon Gruden, whom he traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. That trade directly contributed to the Raiders’ humiliating Super Bowl XXXVII loss, as Gruden’s Buccaneers dismantled Davis’s Raiders using his inside knowledge of their playbook.
Missed Talent Opportunities: Without a modern scouting system and with Davis’s fixation on specific traits, the Raiders passed on future Hall of Famers while cycling through draft busts. These missteps compounded over time, weakening the roster.
The Raiders, previously feared, fell victim to two decades of mediocrity, characterized by losing seasons, dissatisfied fans, and leadership voids. Davis’s concentration of power and unwillingness to adapt did not cause the team to be cursed; rather, his concentrated power and unwillingness to adapt created an environment of dysfunction that lingered until after his passing in 2011.
The Cowboys’ Post-Litigation Challenges Under Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones became the face of the franchise quickly after purchasing the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. Through his business acumen and boldness, he helped make the Cowboys one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. Yet, his legal clashes with the NFL in the 1990s, particularly over league merchandising rights and later disputes with commissioner Roger Goodell, cemented his role as a combative, power-driven owner.
Jones, like Davis, refused to relinquish football control.
No True General Manager: Jones declared himself both owner and general manager, a structure that limited the franchise’s ability to separate business from football operations. While Jones’s decisions initially produced three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, his long-term meddling undermined stability.
Frequent Coaching Changes: Since their last Super Bowl in 1995, the Cowboys have cycled through coaches at a dizzying rate. Jones’s tendency to insert himself into coaching and player decisions created instability and prevented the development of a consistent organizational culture.
Playoff Struggles: The Cowboys boast immense talent and national recognition, yet their postseason record since 1995 is a disappointing 5-13. Despite star players like Tony Romo, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dak Prescott, Jones’s control has prevented the Cowboys from capitalizing fully on their rosters.
The Cowboys are still the most valuable franchise in sports, but their football success cannot match their financial dominance.
Owner Lawsuits as Turning Points for Both Franchises
The similarities between Davis and Jones are striking. Their personal brands were elevated by their involvement in significant legal battles that challenged the NFL establishment. Their desire for absolute control seems to have been bolstered by the lawsuits.
For Davis, the relocation lawsuit victories reinforced his self-image as a lone warrior, further isolating him from modern front office collaboration.
For Jones, his merchandising battles and confrontations with Goodell confirmed his status as a powerful NFL kingmaker, fueling his belief that he should remain at the center of all football and business operations.
The lawsuits in either case did not cause the decline. Instead, they were crucial junctures that encouraged each owner to increase their control, resist delegation, and prioritize their egos over the collaborative structures that modern championship teams necessitate.
Comparing Raiders and Cowboys Post-Super Bowl Records
This breakdown shows how each franchise has performed since their last championship to illustrate the decline.
| Team | Last Super Bowl Victory | Post-Lawsuit Owner Control | Record Since | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 1983 (Super Bowl XVIII) | Al Davis refused GM, traded Gruden, poor drafts | No Super Bowls; sporadic playoff appearances | Instability, lack of modern scouting, ownership micromanagement |
| Cowboys | 1995 (Super Bowl XXX) | Jerry Jones as GM, coaching turnover, meddling | 5-13 playoff record since 1995 | Coaching instability, no GM, owner interference |
Both franchises’ struggles are more closely related to internal management decisions than to external legal outcomes, as revealed by this comparison.
The Broader Lesson: Owner Control vs. Football Success
For modern NFL franchises to succeed, there must be a clear separation of powers: ownership handles business and finance, while general managers and coaches oversee football operations. The success of teams like the New England Patriots (led by Bill Belichick) and the Kansas City Chiefs (operated by Andy Reid and Brett Veach) is due to their owners’ trust in proven football minds.
The Raiders and Cowboys allowed ownership structures that were ego-driven to dominate. Although their lawsuits against the NFL might have represented independence and power, the long-term consequence was their refusal to accept the collaborative models that drive sustained success.
Conclusion: Pride Before the Fall
The Raiders and Cowboys are iconic brands with deep-rooted fan loyalty, but their extended Super Bowl droughts are mainly due to owners who prioritize control over collaboration. Al Davis and Jerry Jones’ lawsuits against the NFL were not curses, but rather catalysts that exacerbated each owner’s insularity and dominance, leading to unstable football operations.
The championship aspirations of these once-proud dynasties will likely be unfulfilled until ownership adopts a delegated, football-first approach.
