The Dallas Cowboys have spent three decades trying to get back to the Super Bowl, but former NFL quarterback Chris Simms believes their biggest problem isn’t a lack of talent.
According to the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and current NBC Sports analyst, Dallas has too often allowed contract drama, media attention, and organizational distractions to become part of the story.
Chris Simms Calls Out Cowboys’ Distractions
Simms acknowledged that the Cowboys have had some genuinely unlucky playoff exits over the years.
He pointed to the 2007 loss to the New York Giants, Aaron Rodgers’ remarkable throw against Dallas in 2016, and the controversial Dez Bryant catch in the 2014 playoffs as examples of seasons when the Cowboys had legitimate Super Bowl-caliber teams.
But Simms believes those moments don’t explain the majority of Dallas’ struggles.
“All the other years go back to an old saying… The circus don’t go to the Super Bowls. And just too many years there’s been circus. Circus, [expletive], contracts, distractions, whatever else. And that’s not conducive to being a top-notch franchise that way,” Simms said.
For Simms, that type of environment makes it difficult for any team to consistently operate at a championship level.
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Why Dallas Continues to Make Headlines
The Cowboys rarely have a quiet offseason.
From Dak Prescott’s drawn-out contract sagas to CeeDee Lamb’s summer camp holdouts, negotiation drama in Dallas rarely stays behind closed doors. It becomes a daily, high-octane media spectacle.
Owner Jerry Jones also keeps the spotlight firmly on Dallas. His frequent radio appearances and willingness to discuss coaches, players, and team decisions ensure the Cowboys remain one of the league’s most talked-about franchises.
That attention isn’t necessarily a problem by itself. The issue, according to Simms, is when the noise becomes a distraction on the gridiron.
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Cowboys Still Searching for a Breakthrough
Dallas finished last season 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year, adding to the franchise’s frustration.
The Cowboys still have plenty of talent, though. Their offseason addition of veteran pass rusher Von Miller is another example of the organization’s willingness to make significant moves in pursuit of a turnaround.
The challenge now is turning that talent into postseason success.
Dallas hasn’t reached the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, when the Cowboys won their most recent Super Bowl.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Cowboys will once again enter the year with high expectations and plenty of attention. If Simms is right, however, the key won’t simply be adding more talent. Dallas will also need to find a way to keep the noise surrounding the organization from becoming a distraction inside it.
