When Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, he quickly made headlines by firing long-time coach Tom Landry. The new Netflix documentary “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” looks back at that decision and the events that followed. In the film, Jones said he received death threats after taking over the team and making himself general manager and president.
Jones commented on his initial experience as owner, stating, “I was Darth Vader” after he bought the team and named himself the team’s general manager and president, per People. The new Dallas Cowboys owner even received death threats at the time after he fired the team’s coach, Tom Landry. “They’re serious about their football in the state of Texas, almost as much as we are in Arkansas,” he added.
After firing Landry, more than 100,000 people came out for a parade honoring the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee who had been coach for nearly 30 years. Jones addressed this part of his past in the documentary: “The firing of Coach Landry was certainly one of the great PR missteps, maybe of all time,” he said. “Because I still wear that.”
Despite criticism from fans upset by Landry’s dismissal, Jones moved forward with his plans for the franchise. He promoted Jimmy Johnson—his former teammate at Arkansas—as head coach. Explaining his motivation during those early days as owner amid backlash from fans, Jones shared: “With all that hate, I could stop and cry, or I could just keep going (…) But I’m not gonna take my marbles and go home. I can’t, I burned all my ships when I landed.”
On why he does not hire a separate general manager for his team management duties today, Jones commented in an interview: “I like the pain.”
Jones purchased the Cowboys for $150 million in 1989. According to Forbes estimates referenced in reports on his business career, Jones built a fortune valued at $16.1 billion through oil exploration investments beginning in the 1970s along with retail ventures and real estate projects. He is also known as an art collector.
When asked whether buying the Dallas Cowboys was meant to benefit his children’s future interests or for personal reasons alone, Jones stated: “No. Just, no (…) I bought the team (…) somebody asked, ‘Did you buy this for your kids?’ I said, ‘Hell no.’ (…) And I didn’t buy an investment; I bought an occupation (…), something I was going to do.”
Jones became top shareholder in Texas oil company Comstock Resources by 2018. Today Forbes values his football franchise at $12.8 billion.
The documentary “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” is currently available on Netflix.
