Tag: Jerry Jones

Aug 29, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, owner Jerry Jones and receiver Amari Cooper talk prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Super ‘shocker’ for Jerry Jones: Cowboys not in Super Bowl LIX

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX and the accompanying festivities, but the trip hasn’t been exactly what he expected, apparently.

In an interview with The Athletic, Jones said it is a “shocker” that his team isn’t in the big game, especially after he invested a total of $376 million — including $331 million in guarantees — in contract extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

“I wouldn’t have signed Dak Prescott, the highest-paid player in the NFL, if now wasn’t when we wanted to win,” Jones said. “This is a shocker to be here at this Super Bowl and not have the Cowboys here. I didn’t plan on that when I made that agreement with him. So we’re going to do everything we can to get there.”

Instead, the Cowboys finished the regular season at 7-10, and Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9.

Head coach Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys split after the season, with Brian Schottenheimer being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach.

Jones told The Athletic he has all the confidence in Schottenheimer.

“I looked at 25 years of being on many staffs in the NFL,” Jones said of his new coach. “I looked at sitting around that dinner table with his daddy, Marty Schottenheimer, and I know what osmosis does. It doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 27, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks to the media at a press conference at the Star. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

New Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer touts hard work, love

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys’ revamped coaching staff is starting to take shape with Brian Schottenheimer introduced as the team’s new head coach Monday, while reports surfaced that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is set to become his defensive coordinator.

Schottenheimer was promoted by owner Jerry Jones from his role as an assistant under former head coach Mike McCarthy. Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator in Dallas the past two seasons.

Schottenheimer is the third Dallas assistant to be promoted to head coach under Jones, joining Dave Campo and Jason Garrett.

“From a football family in the Schottenheimers to the Joneses, thank you guys for this incredible, incredible opportunity,” Schottenheimer said. “And I look forward to working closely with the entire family to continue the legacy and the tradition of this football team.”

A number of Cowboys players were in attendance at the introductory press conference, including quarterback Dak Prescott.

“We’re looking for world-class competitors, guys who want to compete every day to be the best versions of themselves,” Schottenheimer said. “We are looking for people with a relentless work ethic. I was taught at an early age by my father (former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer) that you can outwork people in this business.”

The Cowboys have favored offensive coaches under Jones, who hired McCarthy in 2020 to replace Garrett. Garrett was head coach in Dallas from 2010-19. He took over for Wade Phillips, who spent most of 3 1/2 seasons as coach after following Bill Parcells.

Schottenheimer has been an NFL assistant for more than 25 years. He did not hold play-calling responsibilities with the Cowboys under McCarthy.

“To do what we need to do will take incredible amounts of hard work but we’re going to do it together,” Schottenheimer said. “Our team, the Dallas Cowboys, will be driven by a competitive spirit and a love for one another.”

In five seasons, McCarthy led the Cowboys to three 12-5 campaigns. The team went 6-10 in his first season in 2020 then went 7-10 last season when Prescott missed the final nine games with a hamstring injury.

Now Jones will turn the team over to Schottenheimer, who has no head coaching experience, even though he has been an NFL assistant as far back as 1997 and has worked on the staffs of nine different organizations, including the St. Louis Rams twice.

“Without this being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can operate outside my comfort zone, you are so wrong,” Jones said. “(Hiring Schottenheimer) is as big a risk as you can take. No head coaching experience.”

Eberflus, 54, was fired by the Chicago Bears after serving as their head coach the past three seasons and compiling a 14-32 record. He had served as the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator the previous four seasons.

In four seasons on the staff of the Cowboys from 2011-17, Eberflus served as linebackers coach and added passing-game coordinator duties in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy reacts after a play against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones credits Cowboys coach for team’s effort, performance

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones credits head coach Mike McCarthy for the team’s performance on Sunday night, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fourth win in the past five games to push their record to 7-8.

“All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he’s doing,” Jones said of McCarthy, whose contract expires when the regular season ends Jan. 5. “Don’t have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do after we’re through playing this year.”

Jones said last month it wouldn’t be “crazy at all” to ponder a contract extension for McCarthy despite Dallas missing the playoffs and a steep decline from a 12-5 regular season in 2023. The Cowboys won the NFC East last season but will finish third in 2024.

The final two games of the regular season are against NFC East-leading Philadelphia and current wild-card holder Washington. How the Cowboys perform in those games might ultimately determine the direction the Cowboys go with McCarthy and the coaching position. The Cowboys beat the Commanders at Washington last month to end a five-game losing streak that started the current run of success.

Dallas was eliminated from the playoff picture Sunday by virtue of the Commanders’ win over the Eagles earlier in the day. But they got another win on Sunday night, sinking the Buccaneers 26-24 by forcing a fumble by Rachaad White in the final minute of the game. The Cowboys also had an interception and four sacks in the game.

“They wouldn’t give it up out there. So I’m real, real proud of them,” Jones said. “Mike McCarthy, he just won’t let them not think they’re playing for the Super Bowl out there. He won’t let them do it. So proud of that.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) walks off the field after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones: Cowboys plan to keep Micah Parsons

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Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons is not being traded, a sentiment shared directly by franchise owner Jerry Jones.

Making his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones was adamant Parsons remains part of Cowboys’ foundation into the future.

Jones said any idea of trading the two-time first-team All-Pro has “never been uttered in this organization.”

Jones’ comment was in response to the NFL Network report claiming the Cowboys hadn’t ruled out trading Parsons before his contract must be addressed. Dallas hold a team option worth $24 million for 2025 before Parsons could become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Parsons was asked about that very notion after Dallas’ 30-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

“I understand how that business side goes,” Parsons said, per The Athletic. “There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else. Obviously I’ve stated that I want to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.”

Parsons did not participate in offseason workouts with Dallas last spring. But he said he still wants to play for the Cowboys.

“I’ve put in a lot of work, I’ve played hard too, so obviously if sides can’t agree to those type of things, it happens like that. But I’m just happy to be here. I’m just gonna keep playing hard while I’m here. If I’m here for the next 5-6 years, I’m gonna keep playing hard then too. Ain’t nothing really gonna make a difference, Micah is gonna play hard.”

Parsons, 25, has recorded 32 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games (all starts) this season.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection in his first three seasons in the league, Parsons has totaled 245 tackles, 49 sacks, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 60 career games (all starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) is helped off the field after an injury in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown to have season-ending surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will require season-ending surgery on his right knee, owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday morning on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

Jones said the team was awaiting MRI results to determine the extent of Overshown’s injury. Without that information, Jones couldn’t reveal a timeline for the linebacker’s recovery.

Overshown sustained the injury early in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and did not return to the game.

At the end of a 2-yard run by running back Chase Brown, Overshown’s right leg was rolled up on and pinned by tumbling Cincinnati center Ted Karras. Overshown was being blocked by Bengals guard Alex Cappa at the time.

Overshown, 24, was having a breakout campaign after missing out on his rookie season when he tore the ACL in his left knee during a preseason game. He started all but one game this season and had been a bright spot in a rather disappointing season for the Cowboys (5-8).

“I just can’t tell you how bad I feel for him,” Jones said. “Because he’s just been through that mental and the physical rehab on his other knee. To turn around and have to go through that again … it’s the toughest time for a player.”

Overshown recorded 90 tackles (56 solo), eight tackles for loss, five sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in 13 games (12 starts) this season.

The interception, which was returned 23 yards for a touchdown, came in Dallas’ 27-20 win over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy appears to be safe from an in-season move by owner Jerry Jones. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones: Cowboys not planning to fire Mike McCarthy

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In-season coaching changes are a thing of the past for the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones said.

“You don’t need to worry about anybody in that locker room giving everything they’ve got and more and how bad they feel when they get beat on a play or get beat in a quarter or the whole game, at all,” Jones said Monday following the Cowboys’ seventh loss of the season. “I don’t ever worry about that.”

Jones said he regrets pulling the plug too soon on head coaches in the past, including firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start in 2010.

“I’ve regretted that. That’s the music I’m listening to,” Jones said.

There are no plans for an in-season move involving head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas, where the Cowboys (3-7) are winless at home by a league-worst margin of minus-118.

McCarthy said “it’s frustrating for everybody” to accumulate losses, but he knows the only thing that might save his job when his contract runs out in January is ending the season with a string of wins.

“There is good coming out of this,” McCarthy said Monday night. “You don’t see it because we’re not winning games, but there’s young men that are getting an opportunity to do more and I do believe it’ll pay forward. It needs to hurry the hell up, because we need it in six days.”

The Cowboys went 12-5 last season and discussed a path to the Super Bowl throughout the offseason. Expectations did not match the current reality.

Jones said he’s counting on the Cowboys sticking together through what he described as tough times, similar to Dallas going 1-15 his first year as owner in 1989.

“And we’ve had other tough years. And this one, we didn’t anticipate the record. And the way we’re playing right now, we wouldn’t have anticipated that,” Jones said. “But, not, this isn’t — y’all have heard me tell these old stories until you’re sick — but not, you stay in this league long enough, you’ll have times like this.”

Jones, of course, could change his mind with the Cowboys in the midst of three games in 11 days. Their 34-10 loss in primetime to the Texans on Monday night was the third consecutive home loss by a margin of at least three touchdowns. The Cowboys also suffered a 34-6 loss to the NFC East-leading Eagles and began their current five-game losing streak with a 47-9 spanking at the hands of the Detroit Lions.

Dallas has a quick turnaround for Week 12 against former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who quickly righted the ship with the Washington Commanders (7-4).

“This is it, man. We got seven losses. We’ve got to go. Backs against the wall. We got to fight, scratch and claw. We’ve got to do everything we can to go win the next game,” McCarthy said. “That’s where my mind’s at. That’s what I’m going to coach and that’s the expectation. We’ve got to win.”

The Cowboys are in the spotlight for their traditional Thanksgiving Day game in what is set up as a matchup of backup quarterbacks — Cooper Rush for Dallas and Tommy DeVito for the New York Giants — and play again on “Monday Night Football” 11 days later against the Cincinnati Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and quarterback Trey Lance (19) talk during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Surgery ends season for Dak Prescott, Cowboys shift to QB triage mode

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott requires season-ending surgery to repair a partial avulsion of the hamstring tendon, ending his season and dealing a potentially fatal blow to the franchise’s fading playoff hopes.

Owner Jerry Jones said Prescott is set for surgery Wednesday in New York.

Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that quarterback Cooper Rush will start Monday’s game against the visiting Houston Texans. Trey Lance will serve as the backup while the team is expected to add fellow quarterback Will Grier to the practice squad.

Jones provided optimistic news on Prescott having his surgery in New York.

“He had a good visit last night and he wants to do that there, and he’s got great medical doctors up there,” Jones said. “His prognosis is wonderful, it just means we’re not going to have him the rest of the year.”

Signed to a four-year, $240 million contract extension in September that made him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, Prescott threw for 1,978 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight games this season.

Prescott, 31, led the NFL in completions (410) and touchdowns (36) last season. He threw for 4,516 yards in 17 games as Dallas finished the regular season 12-5.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Prescott owns a 76-46 record in 122 career starts since being picked by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has thrown for 31,437 yards with 213 touchdowns and 82 interceptions.

Rush flopped in his first start of the season on Sunday, one week after Prescott sustained his injury during the third quarter of a 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Rush completed 13 of 26 passes for 45 yards and lost two fumbles as Dallas dropped its fourth straight game, a 34-6 setback to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rush was replaced in the fourth quarter by Lance, who went 4-for-6 for 21 yards with an interception in his first regular-season action since being acquired by the Cowboys in 2023.

But the Cowboys (3-6) are turning back to Rush for the Monday night game against the Texans (6-4).

“Because Cooper has shown that he has the capability to compete and win games,” Jones said. “And he does give us our best chance. Frankly that was really an out-of-character game for him based on what we’ve seen.”

Rush, 30, has completed 35 of 62 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown in parts of five games this season.

He has completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 1,831 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions in 31 career games (seven starts) with Dallas.

Grier, 29, had been with the Cowboys in 2021-22 before being released prior to the 2023 season. He completed 28 of 52 passes for 228 yards in two starts during the 2019 season with the Carolina Panthers.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones lashes out at radio hosts after Cowboys’ loss

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Jerry Jones took issue with being questioned about the Dallas Cowboys’ roster and perceived lack of offseason moves during his weekly radio appearance on Tuesday morning.

Jones didn’t stop there, however, as the team owner and general manager appeared to threaten the jobs of hosts Shan Shariff and R.J. Choppy during the course of the interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. Jones was speaking two days after the Cowboys (3-3) fell flat on his 82nd birthday with a lopsided 47-9 setback to the Detroit Lions.

Jones was being interviewed while traveling to Atlanta for the fall NFL league meeting.

The hosts’ questions about the Cowboys’ relatively quiet offseason rankled Jones.

“This is not your job. Your job isn’t to let me go over all the reasons that I did something and I’m sorry that I did it. That’s not your job. … I’ll get somebody else to ask these questions, men. I’m not kidding.

“You’re not going to figure out what the team is doing right or wrong. If you are, or any five or 10 like you, you need to come to this (NFL) meeting that I’m going to today with 32 teams here, you’re geniuses.

“You really think you’re gonna sit here with a microphone and tell me all of the things that I’ve done wrong without going over the rights?”

Jones was quick to note the Cowboys’ record-breaking deals with star quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

“I know we have outstanding personnel,” he said. “Very outstanding personnel. We’ve just made our quarterback the highest-paid player in the NFL. We just topped the receiver list charts. So we made our bed relative to how we’re going to approach with our key people. We were shorthanded out there on defense, but everybody gets shorthanded. That’s really not an excuse in the NFL. Your depth should step up there and you should be able to — if you can — to compensate to some degree. You can’t compensate for the gap, so to speak, that we had between the way our offense played and the way we were supposed to play.

“Now I’m going to give Detroit a lot of credit. They came after us and got after us and they put guys on top of every offensive lineman you had, and they came at it and put the kind of pressure that gave Dak a lot of problems and gave our running game a lot of problems. We’ve got to be able to handle that.”

Jones and the Cowboys have a bit of time to cool off after the team’s loss on Sunday. Dallas, which is currently on its bye week, returns to action on Oct. 27 against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy (left) and owner Jerry Jones at training camp press conference at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jerry Jones not planning to fire Mike McCarthy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, also the general manager in Dallas, claims he “hasn’t even considered” firing head coach Mike McCarthy.

“I’m not considering that. Just so you’re clear, I’m not considering that,” Jones said Sunday night after the Cowboys were embarrassed by the Detroit Lions in a 47-9 defeat that ranks as the worst home loss since Jones purchased the team.

At 3-3 entering the bye week, the Cowboys are winless at home and 3-0 on the road to sit in third place in the NFC East behind the Washington Commanders (4-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (3-2). Ten NFC teams have three or more wins but Dallas has allowed 168 points for a score differential of minus-42. In the conference, that’s 15th out of 16 teams and better than only the 1-5 Carolina Panthers (203 points allowed).

“Well, we’re disappointed that we’re 3-3,” Jones said. “The three-loss side of it, I don’t necessarily totally blame on McCarthy. The players will tell you they had something to do with it, too. His other parts of the staff will tell you. And the owner sure will tell you he had something to do with it, so it’s not all on him.”

The Cowboys played the Lions without key defensive personnel, including All-Pro Micah Parsons (ankle), 2023 Pro Bowl cornerback DaRon Bland (foot), and veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence was leading the team with 3.0 sacks when he suffered a foot injury two weeks ago and landed on injured reserve.

Quarterback Dak Prescott said players are strongly in McCarthy’s corner. He’s in the final year of his contract after three consecutive 12-5 seasons.

Dallas failed to score a touchdown in the first three quarters for the second consecutive game. The Cowboys escaped Pittsburgh with a Week 5 win thanks to 14 points in the fourth quarter, their only touchdowns in a span of 10 quarters starting with the third quarter against the New York Giants.

Falling behind 27-3 to the Lions took the running game out of the equation and the Cowboys finished with 53 yards on the ground. It’s the third time in the past five games Dallas failed to top 70 rushing yards.

“Generally speaking, I think my message is — I know you don’t need to hear me say this — but I’m well aware that we’re in the proverbial s— right now,” Jones said.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys sense ‘promising’ talks with WR CeeDee Lamb

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A new deal for CeeDee Lamb suddenly looks more promising from the vantage point of the man writing the check, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Jones said Tuesday there is marked progress is the delta between Dallas and its star receiver. Lamb was a no-show for training camp, refusing to play as negotiations proved to be largely unfruitful.

But Jones said there are positive signs in contract negotiations with Lamb and his quarterback. Jones said he likes the chances of Lamb being ready for the start of the regular season Sept. 8 at Cleveland.

“Well, I think I am and when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising. The facts are that I believe we’ll come together. I don’t want to speak for him. That’s what I’m trying not to do. But we wouldn’t have offered him what we’ve offered him if we didn’t want him to be here,” Jones said.

Neither said has shed significant light on the dollar value behind Lamb’s ask or whether he’ll approach the $35 million annually the Vikings are paying All-Pro Justin Jefferson.

On the same side of the ball, Dak Prescott is in the final year of his $140 million contract and can’t be retained with the franchise tag if the Cowboys don’t come up with the cash to keep him in 2025 and beyond.

Jones said the Cowboys continue to hold contract talks with Prescott.

“One of the things that I’d like for the fans to really understand is that nine times out of 10, these are existing (deals) you have in place,” Jones said. “And you should be able to operate under those but we’ve gotten it now in the NFL, other teams are dealing with it too, where with time left on the contract you still might have a contract discussion. … None of us, players or teams, want it to hurt the preparation or the likelihood of playing at your best opening day.”

Jones ruffled feathers when he said the team feels no urgency to sign Lamb, but later clarified he intended to say the Cowboys “know what he can do” and the push to finalize any new contract was minimized by a limited desire to play the wideout in preseason games.

Lamb would have just over two weeks to prepare for Week 1, but first-year offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer implied that’s plenty of work for the 25-year-old.

“CeeDee’s going to be ready. Again, if the system was different, that always adds different challenges. He knows what we do. He and Dak have what I would say are 1,000 or 10,000 banked reps together. And one thing I know about him is he’s staying ready,” Schottenheimer said last week. “A younger player, (there would be worry) because the system is new or different. … There’s wrinkles that he’ll have to pick up on, but his (football intelligence) is unbelievable.”

Lamb set team records last season with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media