Cowboys Owner: Money Never Stopped Us From Hiring
Jerry Jones defended his front office's approach to coaching compensation on a local radio show, asserting that financial constraints have never been a factor in his decisions.
By Aiko Petrov ·
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones faced immediate backlash on Tuesday after telling a local radio audience that a team's spending on its head coach does not correlate with success on the field. The comments, made on 105.3 The Fan, suggested that Jones believes financial offers are rarely the deciding factor when attracting top-tier coaching talent.
Jones spent more than five minutes on the topic during a Friday appearance on the team's flagship network. He stated, "Not one time in my life that I have ever, if I wanted to do it, let money stand in the way of doing it." He argued that he has never refused a coach because they demanded a higher salary, a stance he called "absolutely ridiculous" given public perception.
The discussion comes as the Cowboys have moved through several coaching changes since their last championship. Before selecting Brian Schottenheimer in 2025, the franchise interviewed Leslie Frazier, Robert Saleh, and Kellen Moore. Both Saleh, who is now with the Tennessee Titans, and Moore, who is in New Orleans, secured head coaching positions elsewhere. The Cowboys did not interview Ben Johnson, who signed with the Chicago Bears.
Jones hinted at past negotiations with high-profile figures, including former Saints head coach Sean Payton. He claimed he has actively tried to lure successful coaches away from their current teams and was prepared to pay for their success, though he noted that "no one knows that, but I do." He contrasted this with the idea that he is unwilling to pay for the right candidate.
Coaching salaries in the NFL are not public, but estimates place Schottenheimer in the lower half of the league. His predecessor, Mike McCarthy, earned eight million dollars per season, and Jason Garrett received a five-year, thirty million dollar extension in 2015. Jones has overseen seven head coaches since the team's final Super Bowl victory in 1995.
That 1995 title came under Barry Switzer, who replaced Jimmy Johnson after a split following two consecutive championship seasons in 1992 and 1993. Jones has since hired Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, Garrett, McCarthy, and Schottenheimer. He acknowledged the inherent risk in hiring, noting that while the outcome is ambiguous, the idea that he avoids paying for a chance at a title is wrong.
The Cowboys' next step will be to prepare for the upcoming season with their current coaching staff. Jones said he understands the nuances of the hiring process and the variability of results, but he maintains that the fundamental issue of his unwillingness to pay is a myth.
