The 1990s were a notable period in American sports, with the National Basketball Association’s Chicago Bulls and the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys drawing significant public attention. Now, decades later, Netflix is revisiting this era with “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” an eight-part documentary centered on the Dallas Cowboys.
The release of this series follows Netflix’s previous success with “The Last Dance,” which documented the Chicago Bulls’ final championship season. Although “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” may feature less behind-the-scenes footage than its predecessor due to differences in archival material, early reactions indicate that viewers find it equally compelling.
Online reactions include one viewer stating, “Even though I rarely binge anything these days, I went through all of ‘America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.’ It has more melodrama than The Last Dance, but I’d argue it’s a far superior sports documentary series.” Another commented, “I’m four episodes in, but this Cowboys doc is better than the Last Dance.”
Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing also shared his views on the production. He said the eight-part series was “better” than The Last Dance and pointed to an episode examining team owner Jerry Jones’ relationship with coach Jimmy Johnson as especially interesting.
The documentary highlights the team’s transformation under Johnson after Jones acquired the franchise in 1989 for $150 million. This period included strategic draft moves—most notably trading Herschel Walker for draft picks that led to future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, defensive tackle Russell Maryland, and Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson. With these players added to a core including Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman, Dallas improved rapidly and secured consecutive Super Bowl victories in 1992 and 1993.
Conflicts between Jones and Johnson are also examined within the film. According to Dave Wannstedt, then defensive coordinator for Dallas, Jones once publicly hinted at firing Johnson during an owners meeting celebration for their Super Bowl victory. This tension ultimately led to Johnson departing before the 1994 season. Jones subsequently hired Barry Switzer—another Arkansas connection—as head coach; under Switzer’s leadership, Dallas won another Super Bowl in 1995.
Other chapters address controversies within the organization such as Michael Irvin’s off-field struggles and broader challenges faced by team members during that time period. There is also coverage of lingering animosity between Jones and Johnson following their professional split.
Discussing his process while undergoing cancer treatment in New York, Jones recounted advice he received from a doctor to wish well upon those who provoked negative emotions within him. He stated, “‘At No. 1, I wrote down the name “Jimmy Johnson.”‘ (…) ‘I went back to the female doctor a few weeks later and said, “I can’t get past that first mother…”‘
This documentary stands as Netflix’s latest exploration into major moments in recent sports history through long-form storytelling.
