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Defensive coordinator Dave Campo was promoted to head coach, but he could only post three consecutive 5 – 11 seasons.

Many fans and media were beginning to blame Jerry Jones for the team's ills, noting that he refused to hire a strong coach or general manager, preferring to hire coaches who did not want to be involved with personnel duties so that Jones himself, as GM, could manage them.

Jones then lured Bill Parcells out of retirement to coach the Cowboys.

The Cowboys became the surprise team of the 2003 season, posting a 10 – 6 record and a playoff berth by having the best overall defense in the NFL.

The Cowboys then finished an up-and-down 2006 season with a 9 – 7 record and a playoff appearance, but after a last second loss in the wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks, Parcells retired and was succeeded by Wade Phillips.

In his first season as head coach, Phillips and his coaching staff led the franchise to its best seasonal start ever, a conference-best 13 – 3 record, and the franchise's 16th NFC East championship title, the most of any team in that division.

The Cowboys were eliminated by the ( eventual Super Bowl Champion ) Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs, the first NFC No. 1 seed to do so since the playoff re-alignment.