Despite a challenging 6-10 finish, the 1997 Dallas Cowboys started the season strong with an impressive 37-7 opening win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and maintained a winning record through the first nine weeks. The team featured standout individual performances, with stars like Emmitt Smith surpassing 1,000 rushing yards, Michael Irvin leading the receiving corps, and Deion Sanders earning All-Pro honors. Additionally, the season saw the emergence of talented young players like Pro Bowl linebacker Dexter Coakley and future Hall of Famer Larry Allen, while Troy Aikman was honored as the NFL Man of the Year for his off-field contributions.