Tom Landry 1960 Career Start and Early Coaching Role
Tom Landry began his NFL coaching career in 1960 as the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, a new expansion franchise that started play in the 1960 NFL season. The Cowboys finished their inaugural year with a 0–10–1 record, making Landry the coach of the league's worst team in that season. The franchise was founded by Clint Murchison Jr., and Landry was hired before the team played its first game, setting the foundation for the Cowboys' long-term identity. This 1960 start is a key fact for anyone researching Tom Landry 1960 coaching history and the Cowboys' early years.
Before becoming head coach, Landry was a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, where he helped develop the 4–3 defense that later became a standard in the NFL. He served as a Giants assistant under head coach Jim Lee Howell from 1954 to 1959, and his success there led to his hiring by the Cowboys. Landry's 1960 salary with Dallas was reported in the low six figures, which was competitive for an expansion team at the time. The Cowboys' first training camp was held in California, and the team used the 1960 season to build its roster through the NFL draft and expansion allocations.
Tom Landry 1960 Season Record and Team Performance
The Dallas Cowboys finished the 1960 NFL season with a 0–10–1 record, scoring only 177 points while allowing 383 points over 11 games. The team's sole tie came against the New York Giants in Week 6, and the Cowboys failed to win a single game in their first year. Landry's 1960 record is often cited as a benchmark for rebuilding seasons, and the Cowboys used the experience to improve in subsequent years. The 1960 Cowboys ranked last in the NFL's Eastern Conference, which also included teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins.
The 1960 Dallas Cowboys roster included future Hall of Famers such as quarterback Eddie LeBaron and safety Cornell Green, but the team lacked the depth and consistency needed to compete with established franchises. Landry implemented his system quickly, focusing on disciplined defense and a steady offensive approach that would later define the Cowboys' identity. The franchise's first win did not come until 1961, when Dallas defeated the New York Giants 31–31 in a later rematch, but the 1960 season remained a foundational year for the team. Landry's early coaching philosophy emphasized preparation, situational awareness, and player development, principles that the Cowboys still reference in their current operations.
Tom Landry 1960 Legacy and Long-Term NFL Impact
Tom Landry's 1960 start with the Cowboys eventually led to 29 consecutive seasons as head coach, a record for the longest tenure with a single team in NFL history at the time of his retirement. He guided Dallas to 20 winning seasons, 12 playoff appearances, and two Super Bowl victories, including Super Bowl VI after the 1971 season and Super Bowl XII after the 1977 season. Landry's coaching tree includes assistants who later became head coaches across the NFL, and his defensive innovations influenced team strategies for decades. The Cowboys' Ring of Honor and the Tom Landry Award recognize his lasting contributions to the franchise and the league.
Today, Landry's 1960 role is studied by football historians as the beginning of a coaching era that shaped the modern NFL's emphasis on defensive innovation and long-term organizational stability. The Cowboys' current front office, led by executive Stephen Jones, still references Landry's