The 1996 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 37th season in the National Football League (NFL) and was the third year under head coach Barry Switzer. Following their victory in Super Bowl XXX, the Cowboys endured a rough year failing to improve their 12–4 record from 1995 but still reached the playoffs with a 10–6 record. Star receiver Michael Irvin was suspended by the league for the first five games and before the playoffs was accused along with lineman Erik Williams of sexual assault. Controversy also took place when writer Skip Bayless published a scathing account of the Cowboys' 1995 season. Longtime trainer Mike Woicik also left the team after the season following a sideline dispute with coach Barry Switzer although Woicik returned in 2011. Additionally, late in the season; defensive tackle Leon Lett would be suspended for the last 3 games of the season and the first 13 of the following season after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
This season would be the last season the Cowboys won a playoff game until 2009, and since their Super Bowl win the previous season, the Cowboys have never made it past the divisional round as of 2022.
This would be Troy Aikman’s final season with a playoff win.
Offseason
NFL draft
Regular season
Against the Chicago Bears in week one, running back Emmitt Smith left the game late with an injury that left him temporarily paralyzed. Though not career-threatening, Smith's injury hampered his effectiveness for the duration of the season. Adding to their difficulties, star wide receiver Michael Irvin was suspended for the first five games due to his highly publicized off-season incidents. Star cornerback Deion Sanders became the first player in the modern era of the NFL to start several games on both offense and defense. Charles Haley, a major defensive force for the Cowboys during the prior four seasons, missed most of the 1996 season with injury. Tight end Jay Novacek, a key offensive threat in recent seasons, missed the entire season due to an injury.
After losing three of their first four games, the team returned to form, winning three straight before defeating former head coach Jimmy Johnson, then head coach of the Miami Dolphins, on the way to their fifth consecutive NFC East title. Although Dallas still moved the ball well on offense, they had serious late-season trouble scoring touchdowns (ultimately finishing just 25th in the league in points scored). They won games against Green Bay (21–6) and New England (12–6), the season's eventual Super Bowl participants, without scoring a touchdown (seven field goals against Green Bay and four against New England); Dallas's defense finished third in the league in fewest points allowed.
The season also saw the return of former Cowboy Herschel Walker who added versatility as both a running back and kick-off returner. Walker had ten carries for 83 yards and a touchdown and 27 kick returns for 779 yards.
The game of the year came on November 10 at San Francisco. The Cowboys stood at 5–4 with the Niners at 7–2; the Niners had won three straight meetings with the Cowboys since Barry Switzer was hired as head coach. Sacks by Broderick Thomas and Jim Schwantz knocked Niners quarterback Steve Young out of the game and Elvis Grbac, who had shredded the Cowboys defense the previous year, came on, and after the Niners blew a 10–0 lead they took a 17–10 lead with 11:30 left in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys drove to the Niners' redzone but Aikman was picked off in the endzone by Marquez Pope with 6:30 to go. Grbac, however, was intercepted at his six-yard line on the ensuing play by Fred Strickland, and three plays later Aikman connected with Eric Bjornson for the tying touchdown. In overtime a big Emmitt Smith run set up Chris Boniol's winning field goal. With their win and a Redskins loss to Arizona, the Cowboys surged to win the NFC East.
After defeating the Minnesota Vikings 40–15 in the first round of the playoffs at Texas Stadium (which was, until 2009, their last playoff win), the Cowboys traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina and lost to the second-year Carolina Panthers, who had won the NFC West at 12–4 in their second season. Star receiver Michael Irvin was injured in the opening moments of the Carolina playoff game. Deion Sanders was also injured and had to leave as well.
Notable additions to the team included linebacker Randall Godfrey and safety George Teague.