Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has expressed his belief that quarterback Tony Romo will be key to their chances of reaching the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys have not reached the NFL's showpiece event since the 1995 season, and have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last four campaigns despite having a chance to win the NFC East in the regular season finale three years in a row.

Romo has only won one playoff game as a quarterback for the Cowboys, but Jones took responsibility for the team not making greater strides in the league in recent years and believes that Romo could be the man to lead them back to the top.

"We should have been knocking on the door and we haven't and I have no excuses, it starts here," Jones told KRLD-FM Dallas/Fort Worth.

"But we have not. I know that to the extent that we have a healthy Romo, our best chance to get back to the Super Bowl is a healthy Romo."

Jones celebrated 25 years in charge of the Cowboys on Tuesday, during which time he has seen the team win three Super Bowl championships.