Cowboys legend Michael Irvin explains bold Super Bowl prediction amid title drought

The Dallas Cowboys haven't played in an NFC Championship Game since they won the Super Bowl in January 1996, and the club is coming off a disappointing season that Dallas finished with a record of 7-9-1. 

Nevertheless, franchise legend Michael Irvin sounds convinced the future is bright for the Cowboys under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Michael Irvin calls Super Bowl shot for 2026 Cowboys

"The Cowboys can be in this game next year," Irvin said while referencing the Super Bowl during a recent chat with Ryan Morik of Fox News Digital. "We could be sitting here talking about the Cowboys in this game next year. And I want you to find me and make sure you say to me, 'You said this. You said, Michael, you said, they could be here.' They will be here. I want you to find me."

Schottenheimer took over as Dallas' head coach last winter, long before team owner/general manager Jerry Jones traded star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark in late August. That transaction seemed to weaken the Dallas defense, something Jones attempted to fix when he acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson ahead of the trade deadline. 

There were times during Schottenheimer's first campaign in charge when it appeared that the Cowboys could at least hang with the best overall teams in the league. That said, Schottenheimer currently doesn't know if he'll have wide receiver George Pickens as a weapon next season. 

Pickens is in the final weeks of his contract, and the favorite target for quarterback Dak Prescott during the 2025 campaign reportedly isn't close to inking a deal with the Cowboys. However, Dallas could retain Pickens' rights for 2026 via the franchise tag. 

Are Cowboys one good offseason away from becoming a contender?

"I love what he's done with the offense, 'cause we found the offense," Irvin said about Schottenheimer. "Now, we just got to solidify and make sure it gets more consistent, and being able to put up 30, 35 points a game. Now, with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark up the middle, dude, we got a force coming up the middle of the field. We gotta solidify that defense." 

ESPN stats show the Cowboys finished the 2025 regular season ranked 30th in the league with an average of 377.0 yards allowed per game and last with an average of 30.1 points surrendered per contest. Such numbers indicate Irvin is right about Dallas being a handful of defensive improvements away from possibly competing for more than just a playoff spot next January.