Fans of the Dallas Cowboys received an in-depth look at the team’s past through a new eight-part Netflix documentary series, *America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys*. The series revisits the team’s three-championship run during the 1990s and covers significant moments in franchise history.
The documentary includes interviews with key figures from that era, such as team owner Jerry Jones, Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin; defensive players Deion Sanders and Charles Haley; coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer; commentator Al Michaels; media figure Skip Bayless; business leader Rupert Murdoch; and former U.S. President George W. Bush.
Among the revelations is a recounting of Jerry Jones’s controversial decision to fire head coach Tom Landry after purchasing the team in 1989. The film shows Jones reflecting on that moment early in his tenure by recalling how he took Johnson to Landry’s favorite Mexican restaurant immediately following Landry’s dismissal.
Other segments include anecdotes about former players. Troy Aikman shared how he was inspired to write poetry because Herschel Walker did. The film also explores Barry Switzer’s longevity as he nears ninety years old, with Jones asking about his secret to looking young but not sharing his answer on camera.
Jones discusses a previous missed business opportunity involving the San Diego Chargers, which he attributes to his father’s concerns about potential dealings with union boss Jimmy Hoffa. This story appears as part of broader self-reflection throughout the series.
On-the-field matters are also explored. The documentary details an injury that led backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein to play for Aikman in 1991, as well as distinctive 1990s fashion trends among players and fans. Attention is paid to major events like the Herschel Walker trade, emphasizing its complexity beyond common perception and its role in shaping the Super Bowl-winning teams.
One segment centers on Emmitt Smith’s contract dispute with Jones in 1993. Smith held out until becoming the league’s highest-paid running back—an episode likened to more recent contract situations involving other star players.
Smith recounts his emotions upon returning to Texas Stadium with the Arizona Cardinals after leaving Dallas. He describes feeling moved when entering the stadium where he spent most of his career.
The longstanding relationship between Jones and Johnson receives particular focus. Tensions over credit for building championship teams persist through current interviews conducted for this production. In one scene from 2023 featured near the end of the series, Johnson is recognized by being included in the Cowboys Ring of Honor—a moment portrayed as especially meaningful both for him and several former players who attended.
The series concludes by showing their on-screen reconciliation while suggesting unresolved questions remain regarding their working relationship.
