For nearly three decades, the Dallas Cowboys have clung to the prestigious “America’s Team” moniker. But according to former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, that title is slipping away, and owner Jerry Jones is to blame. Irvin’s frustration boils down to Jones’ decision to bypass hiring Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as head coach, opting instead to promote offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
Michael Irvin Let’s His Frustration Out About His Former Team
Irvin didn’t hold back as he outlined the Cowboys’ struggles and the urgency to shake things up.
“We have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship Game being played (Sunday). All eyes on them. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, our enemies on all fronts. And they’re in a position that we haven’t held in 30 f***ing years. … We’re losing ground in the NFC. That’s 30 damn years. Forty years is a generation. Right here, right now, it was critical mass.
“It was time to bring somebody in here that could shake things up and grab this last leg of Cowboys Nation.”
Irvin’s fiery comments reflect not only the Cowboys’ prolonged mediocrity but also the growing dominance of their rivals. With both the Eagles and Commanders excelling, the pressure on Dallas to reclaim its former glory has never been higher.
“A third of Cowboys Nation has never felt or lived the glory of a championship story. How the hell can they pass something down when they don’t even know about it? In 10 years, that would have been a generation that knows nothing about a championship from the so-called America’s Team,” Irvin said.
“And worse yet, that generation has seen total domination from a team named the Kansas City Chiefs. So not only are you losing football games over here and opportunities over here and divisions over here, you’re about to get our (America’s Team) moniker snatched off our backs.”
Why Did Jerry Jones Hire Brian Schottenheimer as Head Coach?
Schottenheimer’s promotion to head coach has been met with widespread skepticism. Critics argue that Jones passed over more dynamic, proven candidates in favor of someone he could control.
While Schottenheimer has NFL experience, his track record has been uneven, with teams under his guidance often ranking in the bottom half of the league in scoring. This will be Schottenheimer’s first head coaching opportunity in the NFL.
Irvin’s frustrations highlight the generational gap within Cowboys Nation.
‘Get With It or Get Gone’
Irvin’s message was amplified by former Cowboys star Dez Bryant, who took to Twitter to support his perspective. Bryant tweeted, “88 didn’t tell 1 lie…”
88 didn’t tell 1 lie… https://t.co/HgEpSAB9Vc
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 26, 2025
Irvin echoed this sentiment, comparing the Cowboys’ stagnant decision-making to the failures of once-dominant corporations.
“You can mess around like Sears and miss out on becoming Amazon. Blockbuster did the same thing. These were empires that we thought would not fall, and they FELL! Because they got stuck in yesterday and wouldn’t step into tomorrow. Social media is tomorrow, Deion is running social media, too.
“This next generation that has never felt the glory of that championship story — we could have at least snatched them up on social media. Because that’s part of the new thing. Get with it or get gone.”
The decision to hire Schottenheimer instead of Sanders feels like a missed opportunity for a franchise desperate to return to glory. While Jones may have opted for familiarity, Irvin and other Cowboys legends are calling for bold, forward-thinking leadership to rescue the team’s fading status.
For a franchise that once embodied greatness, the clock is ticking. And as Irvin made clear, if the Cowboys don’t evolve, “America’s Team” may soon belong to someone else.