How is Dallas in the NFC East?

Hope your ready to do some reading...this will clear some of why the divisions are not geographically correct.

When the Cowboys were originally put in the league in 1960, they were a part of the Western Division. As the Vikes joined a year later, they moved the Cowboys to the Eastern Division as the Vikes were put into the Western division, as that division had the Bears, Packers, and other teams of that same general area. Other teams in the East were: New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Washington. Over time, small rivalries started to develop. In 1966, Atlanta was added to the division. In 1967, with the addition of New Orleans, 4 divisions were created. Capitol, Century, Coastal, and Central.

Dallas was placed in the Capitol Division with the New York Giants (for one season), the New Orleans Saints (for two seasons), Washington Redskins, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Once the leagues merged in 1970, they created the only 5 team division (at the time) in the new NFC East. Dallas had started rivalries with Philadelphia, Washington, and the Giants. So they were kept in the same division. St. Louis was added since they had shared the same division as the Giants, Eagles, and Redskins for the last 20 years or so.

Once the divisions were realigned again in 2002, the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, and Giants were once again spared from breaking apart. The Cards moved to the West since they played in Arizona. The Panthers made the move to the new South Division since they were geographically close to the area of New Orleans, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. The Panthers had also played their seasons in the NFC West. Since the division, at the time, had only 4 teams in their division and every other division had 5, it only made sense.

Hope this helps. My hobby is football history. I don't do player stats, but I do do team and league stats.

They are in the NFC east Because of the Long Time Rivialry, But the Time Has Come for a change, Put Dallas in the NFC South (switch w/ Panthers) or the West (switch with the Rams) that would make a more Geographically correct Divisions.

The League switch to 4 divisions per conference When Houston came back into the league.

The divisional rivalries between the Redskins, Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants were too rich to just stop

I think the NFL made a good move- and since they only play once a week, it's not like traveling is too much of an issue. These are always good football games in the NFC East

Because when they made it 4 per division when the Texans came in the 2002 season the Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles, and Giants were always big rivals so why would they take Cowboys out of the division? They only have one game a week so traveling is no problem.

well its the same thing for KC.. why r they in the AFC West..

maybe cause there all clutch rival teams to make nfl some money

COWBOYS SUCK!!!