why are the cowboys in the nfc east

The Dallas Cowboys are in the NFC East primarily due to historical and rivalry reasons rather than purely geographical logic. When the Cowboys joined the NFL in 1960 during the league's expansion, the divisional alignment was heavily influenced by existing rivalries and competitive balance considerations. The Cowboys quickly developed intense rivalries with East Coast teams like the New York Giants and Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins), which the NFL wanted to preserve to boost fan interest and television ratings. Although Dallas is geographically located more centrally (in the Central Time Zone and closer to southern or western teams), the NFL placed the Cowboys in the NFC East to maintain these important rivalries and ensure the division's competitiveness. The division's rivalries and historical context have since become a part of the Cowboys' identity, keeping them in the NFC East despite the less-than-ideal geographical fit.