The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) East division.
Marshall had a disagreement with Barnee Breeskin, the band leader for the Redskins, who composed the music for the Redskins battle song “Hail to the Redskins.” The lyrics were written by Marshall’s wife.
Breeskin was aware of Murchison’s struggle to get an NFL club and owned the rights to the song at the same time. Before the expansion vote in 1959, Breeskin approached Murchison’s attorney to sell him the rights to the song because he was angry with Marshall. Murchison ended up purchasing “Hail to the Redskins” for the price of $2,500.
In 1959, prior to the vote that would award franchises, Murchison informed Marshall that he now owned the song, and he forbade Marshall from playing it while the team was competing.
After Marshall unleashed an obscenity-laced rant, Murchison offered to buy back the rights to “Hail to the Redskins” from Marshall in exchange for his vote, which was the only one cast at the time in opposition to Murchison being awarded a franchise. Thus, a rivalry was established.
Did the Cowboys change their name?
Formerly known as the Dallas Texans and currently playing under the name Kansas City Chiefs, the original Dallas franchise was originally owned by the Hunt family.
Before becoming known as the Dallas Cowboys, the expansion franchise in Dallas had previously been known as the Dallas Steers and then the Dallas Rangers.