At the time, the 1989 Cowboys were the second team to finish 1-15 since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978; the other was the New Orleans Saints in 1980.
In the context of NFL history, the 1989 Cowboys were not alone in experiencing a 1-15 season. The league's decision to adopt a 16-game schedule in 1978 had led to similar struggles for another team, the New Orleans Saints, in 1980.