Jerry Jones caught flak from all quarters of NFL fandom following his antics at new Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s introductory press conference.
NFL Fans Roast Jerry Jones for Self-Obsessed Press Conference
What was meant to be an opportunity for Schottenheimer to field questions became a Jones soliloquy when the Cowboys president took the microphone. Jones eventually got around to stating his reason for promoting Schottenheimer from his offensive coordinator role.
Jerry Jones on hiring Brian Schottenheimer:
"If you don't think I can operate outside my comfort zone, you are so wrong. This (hiring Schottenheimer) is as big a risk as you can take. No head coaching experience."pic.twitter.com/hOUAw8mJ6H
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 27, 2025
“Now I get my proverbial a** kicked over needing people in my comfort zone. Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don’t think I can’t operate out of my comfort zone, you’re so wrong. It’s unbelievable. This is as big a risk as you can take. No head coaching experience!”
“With all of that, you’ve just heard him reference his osmosis, his family. Anybody in this room that doesn’t believe the apple doesn’t go far from the tree has missed it someplace down the road. Especially if there was an effort to make it that way.”
However, what wasn’t shown in the above video is how Jones beat around the bush with his answer for several minutes. According to viewers who tuned in and reporters at the conference, Jones went off on various tangents. RJ Ochoa of SB Nation posted about the situation.
“Jerry Jones was asked why he hired Brian Schottenheimer and went on a rant about how he has basically never missed a Senior Bowl or NFL Combine and how he wanted to be a coach and a bunch of other stuff and went on for several minutes without ever actually talking about Brian,” Ochoa’s message reads.
Jerry Jones was asked why he hired Brian Schottenheimer and went on a rant about how he has basically never missed a Senior Bowl or NFL Combine and how he wanted to be a coach and a bunch of other stuff and went on for several minutes without ever actually talking about Brian
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 27, 2025
According to the Blogging The Boys X (formerly known as Twitter) account, SB Nation’s home for Dallas content, “Jerry Jones took the first question he was asked and grabbed the mic and has yet to let go.”
Jerry Jones took the first question he was asked and grabbed the mic and has yet to let go.
Not even talking about Brian or anything legitimate.
Just talking about himself.
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) January 27, 2025
Cowboys fans were understandably even more exasperated with this brusque behavior from the organization’s leader. One fan noted how his anecdote about a five-year-old car was “tone-deaf” for most Americans.
This five year old Bronco story by Jerry Jones is tone deaf.
A five year car is not evidence of struggle and cutting cost— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) January 27, 2025
Another fan noted that Jones’ decision to promote Schottenheimer was simply a cost-cutting measure. It looks suspiciously close to the real reason, especially in light of his now-infamous “all in” comments from the 2024 offseason.
Who actually believes this rhetoric?
He is the cheapest option that "knows how things work around here". pic.twitter.com/1tYo8AC0hf— Mark of Euless (@Kiffer68) January 27, 2025
Most fans have little sympathy or rope to give Jones any benefit of the doubt after decades without success. While the Cowboys continue to maintain a high profile and rank among the league’s biggest fanbases, their star power could soon erode if the lack of playoff success continues for longer.