Sports writer Jeff Pearlman has criticized the Netflix docuseries “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” which focuses on Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s. Pearlman, author of the 2008 book “Boys Will Be Boys: The Glory Days and Party Nights of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty,” stated that the series inaccurately depicts certain events from that era.
Pearlman, who also wrote Brett Favre’s 2016 biography, “Gunslinger,” expressed concern in a video posted to his TikTok account. He claimed that Skydance, the producer of the docuseries, based some material on his work. Pearlman said: “A couple of things: No. 1, I know they used my book. It’s clear that Skydance used my book… It’s OK. Fine. Whatever.”
Pearlman further criticized how credit for the landmark Herschel Walker trade was depicted in the series. According to Pearlman: “Jerry Jones taking credit for the Herschel Walker trade is ridiculous. It’s not a ‘we.’ It was Jimmy (Johnson). It was zero percent, Jerry. Jerry didn’t even know what the hell was going on. It was a Jimmy Johnson trade. The organization of the trade was Jimmy. The value for the picks for the players they acquired was Jimmy. And so far, this whole documentary is just a hand job to Jerry Jones. It actually is infuriating.”
Pearlman’s comments highlight ongoing debates about how sports history is portrayed in media and who receives credit for significant team achievements.
The Netflix production has drawn attention to Jones’ role as owner since acquiring the franchise in 1989, including major changes such as replacing coach Tom Landry with Jimmy Johnson and subsequent Super Bowl victories in 1992 and 1993 under Johnson’s leadership.
Since then, Jones has overseen further coaching changes and another Super Bowl win under Barry Switzer in 1995 while growing the team’s commercial success.
