Calls for Jerry Jones to finally relinquish control of the Cowboys: “He's selling the fans a fantasy”
Jones has owned the Cowboys since 1989 but has led them to just three Super Bowls.
The Dallas Cowboys ' latest defensive failure has reignited questions over Jerry Jones ' control of the franchise, with former receiver Terrell Owens arguing that the owner needs to step back. Jones entered the season insisting Dallas would field a stronger defense than the 2025 NFL season. That confidence quickly came under scrutiny after the Cowboys surrendered 28 points in a defeat to the New York Giants .
Owens criticized Jones following the loss, arguing that the Cowboys owner continues to present supporters with an unrealistic vision as his comments placed the owner's role at the center of the discussion. “It’s the same old same old,” Owens told Get To The Point. “I mean, Jerry Jones is really selling all these Cowboy fans, he’s selling them a fantasy, he’s selling them a dream. “He needs to relinquish some of the control that he has with the team and allow some other people to kind of step in place. “That’s kind of like a sign of narcissism, in a sense. And at the end of the day, he’s not even really worried about wins and losses.”
Cowboys' latest Super Bowl bid takes blow vs Giants
The criticism followed a performance that made Dallas ' defensive rebuild look uncertain as the Giants repeatedly exposed weaknesses. Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart proved able to effectively move the football on their way to beating the Cowboys ' revamped unit. Dallas had invested heavily in improving that defense during the offseason but despite the effort, New York converted nine of 11 third-down attempts. Von Miller was among the additions, while Christian Parke r took charge as coordinator after the unit struggled during the previous campaign. The Cowboys also added Caleb Downs , Malachi Lawrence , Jalen Thompson , Cobie Durant , Dee Winters and Rashan Gary . That 81.8% third down conversion represented the Giants ' strongest third-down showing since 1978, whilst Dallas only produced only the 21st-best pressure rate in Week 1 despite blitzing at the seventh-highest rate. The defensive struggles placed additional pressure on an offense featuring Dak Prescott , CeeDee Lamb , George Pickens and Javonte Williams . Even such a star-studded offense could not hide the defensive frailty as Dallas ultimately lost the game 28-20, starting the season with another setback.
The situation has renewed attention on how Jones operates the Cowboys compared to when he first acquired the franchise. Decades ago, he worked alongside Jimmy Johnson. Jones handled business matters while Johnson directed football operations. That arrangement helped Dallas win two Super Bowls , but the organization's structure has since evolved. Jones has remained deeply involved in football decisions while continuing as the team's owner and general manager - perhaps to the detriment of the franchise But regardless, the 83-year-old has shown little indication that he intends to relinquish control and claims he still has work to do as he pursues additional Super Bowl success. “I don’t have a succession plan, I don’t,” Jones told The Athletic. “One day I just won’t be here to toss my two cents in.” Jones is attempting to close the gap to Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots ' Super Bowl total. However, doing so would require four more championships - a tall order.
