Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones spoke on Wednesday following Zack Martin’s retirement press conference and offered a rather twisted take on the state of the team.
Jones reflected on the 2024 season and the high expectations he had entering the year. When asked how close last year’s Cowboys were to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Jones didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts.
“This time last year, I thought we’d win the division. We’re operating with a mentality of being very competitive within our division,” Jones said. “Not just the Eagles, but with the division overall.”
However, Dallas didn’t win the division — and didn’t even make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Eagles went on to win the division and ultimately captured the Super Bowl title, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans.
Despite Jones’ comments, the reality of the situation paints a very different picture. The Cowboys’ disappointing finish led to a dramatic shift in approach, with ownership opting to “blow it up” after their playoff collapse against the Packers. That decision set the stage for a major roster reset, with Dallas preparing to have around $100 million to invest in the future.
One factor Jones pointed to was the injury to quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed most of last season. Prescott recently claimed the Cowboys were very close to the Eagles competitively, a statement that doesn’t align with the results. Dallas lost both matchups against Philadelphia by a combined score of 75-13. While Prescott missed both games, they were anything but competitive.
Prescott may have been thinking of previous seasons, as he holds a 9-4 career record against Philadelphia. But last season, Dallas was a clear third in the NFC East pecking order, even finishing behind the Washington Commanders, who reached the NFC Championship Game before falling to the Eagles.
The rivalry between the Cowboys and Eagles remains strong, and while bold comments may add fuel to the fire, there’s no denying the gap between the two teams last season.