Who started the phrase America's Team when describing the Dallas Cowboys?

Answer 1

Bob Ryan, the Vice President and editor-in-chief of NFL Films, coined this for the Cowboys in 1979. After preparing and editing the team's 1978 season highlight film he had to come up with a title for the film. He was quoted as saying: I wanted to come up with a different twist on their team highlight film. I noticed then, and had noticed earlier, that wherever the Cowboys played, you saw more people in the stands with Cowboys jerseys and hats and pennants. Plus, they were always the national game on television. During the Cowboys' first game of the 1979 season, a nationally televised game against the St. Louis Cardinals (which Dallas won 22-21), the television announcer introduced the Cowboys as America's Team and the name stuck. Dallas's Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry originally did not approve of the appellation of America's Team. He felt that it would give opposing teams extra incentive to play harder.

Answer 2

"America's Team" was the title of the official 1978 Dallas Cowboys highlight film. The name was created by Bob Ryan of NFL Films, who had noticed the team's strong following throughout the country.