Owner Clark Hunt’s success with the Kansas City Chiefs is largely because he chooses to trust and lean on people with more expertise around him. His inner circle includes people like HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach, who, alongside Hunt, play their part without hogging the limelight. Quite a far cry from how things are in Dallas, where Jerry Jones is the owner, the GM, and… well, the center of the Cowboys universe. Jones’ refusal to delegate is infamous, and so is his stubbornness to not learn from other owners and franchises.
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The gold standard of success in the NFL is, of course, the Super Bowl. Jones just needs to look closer at the two teams featuring in this edition, learn how their owners run the show, and try and replicate a bit of that in Dallas. This advice for the Cowboys patriarch, coming from Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, was laced with their trademark wit, sarcasm, and criticism in equal measure.
Sharpe attributed Jones’ inability to learn and delegate to his seemingly insatiable craving for attention and credit. According to the Hall of Fame Tight End, that is why Jones is continuously in front of the media. Sharpe hasn’t seen other owners meddle in front-office decisions or hog the mic like Jerry does.
“Jerry wants credit. You see Jeffrey Lurie. He is perfectly content. I think I’ve heard Lurie talk once and he did a feature about his brother. As a matter of fact, I ain’t heard Clark Hunt talk. A lot of owners, I ain’t heard talk,” said Sharpe on Nightcap.
Johnson chimed in by describing the scene at the Philadelphia Eagles, where owner Jeff Lurie gives general manager Howie Roseman complete freedom regarding players and personnel. That includes the draft process, off-season acquisitions, and signing star players to surround Jalen Hurts.
According to Chad, this has led to Howie building competitive rosters every season. The trust is paid back with results. Despite being in the same division as Philadelphia, Jerry refuses to take elements from the formula that’s working for the Eagles.
“You look at the landscape of the NFL, the teams that consistently win, how they draft, how they bring in off-season acquisitions. It’s okay to copy what they may be doing instead of continuously trying to do things your way. I’m not sure what Jerry is getting that,” Johnson explained.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys hired a new HC in Brian Schottenheimer last week. And that gave Jerry another opportunity to talk. What did he have to say about his new decision?
Jones talks about hiring Schottenheimer
Jones’ poll numbers dropped further after he made another head-scratching decision to promote the OC Schottenheimer to the role of head coach. He remains unfazed by the criticism, though.
The 82-year-old businessman did acknowledge the risk of hiring someone without prior head coaching experience, but, in a positive light. Jones emphasized the importance of taking risks and expressed confidence that hiring Schottenheimer is a gamble worth the reward. “It’s a risk, not a big of a risk but it’s a serious risk,” started Jones.
“I was talking to Brian about calling plays frankly after the season was over. I have one [Schottenheimer] who is very capable in those skills and those players. He’s got skills. He is uniquely qualified to coach our team. He is uniquely qualified to coach Dak. Schotti has been doing this for 25 years. He’s got tons of experience.”
Jones explained that the decision came after extensive interviews with several candidates. He also compared Schottenheimer to top coaching talents like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, asserting that Brian is a great fit for both the Cowboys and their quarterback Dak Prescott.
Regardless of what Jones says or believes, many feel the real reason behind Schottenheimer’s hiring is the owner’s desire to maintain control. Critics argue that he wanted a coach who wouldn’t challenge his authority. And now Jerry has one.
