Helmets from Texas NFL Teams

No sport has a following in Texas like football. At the highest professional level, football has been played in the state's two largest cities since the 1960s.

Houston has had multiple teams in the American Football League and National Football League. Today the city hosts the Houston Texans (2002–present), but the franchise that played in the city longest was the Houston Oilers (1960–1996). The Oilers uniform was Columbia blue and white with scarlet trim and their logo, an oil derrick, was displayed on their helmets. They played in the Astrodome, which was the world’s first domed indoor sporting venue when it opened in 1965. It hosted Houston’s baseball team, the Astros, and football team, the Oilers. By 1995, the “Dome” had become outdated and Oilers owner Bud Adams announced that the team would be moved to Nashville after the season. In 2014 the Astrodome was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, no longer used as a host site for the city’s sports teams or events.

Dallas has also been home to multiple professional teams; the Dallas Cowboys (1960–present) are the longest running. One of the winningest franchises in football, the Cowboys are known for their iconic lone star logo and blue, white, and silver uniforms. Texas Stadium opened in 1971 in Irving specifically to host the Dallas Cowboys. Although originally intended to feature the world’s first retractable roof, the final design of the stadium included a roof that partially covered but remained open over the playing field. The stadium hosted the Cowboys from 1971 until 2008, during which time the Cowboys won five Super Bowl championships.

A rivalry game, known as the Texas Governor’s Cup, has been played regularly between the two cities’ teams. The Dallas Cowboys finished ahead in the all-time series with the Oilers, but the rivalry continues with the Houston Texans. One of the most memorable Texas Governor’s Cup games took place in Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day 1979. Both teams were leading their divisions, and the game was a back-and-forth contest. The game featured big plays from future hall of famers, including a touchdown from Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and a 61-yard touchdown run from Oilers running back Earl Campbell.