The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NFL. Manchester United are the most accomplished team in the history of English football. Both teams are comparable in terms of their historic success and their impact on sporting culture across the globe.
Despite their past success, both clubs are undergoing a period of struggle in their bid to win the Super Bowl and the Premier League respectively. Dallas have failed to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy since the 1995 campaign.
United’s drought has spanned nine years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from the sideline, and appears to have no end in sight.
The Red Devils are backed at 100/1 in the football betting odds to win the Premier League crown in the 2021/22 season, highlighting how far the club have fallen behind the leading teams in England’s top division.
In their pursuit of success, Dallas and United have fallen into the same traps. The Cowboys enjoyed success under the ownership of Jerry Jones in the early days of his tenure. The first pick of the new era Troy Aikman would be one of the best selections with the top pick in the history of the NFL Draft. Jones also secured a great hire when he plucked Jimmy Johnson from the Miami Hurricanes to replace the legendary Tom Landry.
Emmitt Smith joined Aikman in the 1990 campaign and combined with Michael Irvin to form one of the most dominant offenses in the NFL. Savvy defensive additions complemented the offense, allowing Dallas to win back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
However, success proved to be the downfall of the franchise as Jones and Johnson were at loggerheads, which resulted in the departure of the latter.
Barry Switzer was hired as Johnson’s replacement and guided Dallas to the NFC Championship Game, only to be defeated by the San Francisco 49ers. The following season Switzer would have redemption leading his All-Star team to the Super Bowl where they would beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones believed that he had the formula for success.
Once Dallas’ superstars began to decline, the Cowboys struggled to replace them, despite spending lucrative amounts in free agency. Jones cycled through head coaches as Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett all came and went.
Despite adding talent and providing the perfect facilities for their players and coaches, Dallas have not been able to discover the winning formula. Their brand continues to go from strength to strength and they regularly sell out AT&T Stadium as well as taking hordes of fans on the road. However, the ultimate success has evaded Jones and company, and in reality has never been close in 25 years.
United are in the same position. The Red Devils have thrown money at their issues signing a litany of international superstars. The re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2021/22 season is the latest high-profile player to grace Old Trafford in their bid to return to relevance.
United have been through a number of top managers such as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, none of whom came close to winning the top flight or producing a meaningful run in the Champions League. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was hired after initial success and due to sentiment, only to endure the same struggles if not worse than his predecessors. They too have forgotten the winning formula.
The two icons of sport can throw all the money and big names they want at their problem, but until they reconfigure the mentality of their respective teams, then it will all be for nothing.
