Jerry Jones, the enigmatic owner of the Dallas Cowboys, opened up in a new interview about his storied history with America’s team, his private cancer battle and the Micah Parsons trade that shocked the sports world.
The legendary president and general manager who recently revealed he overcame Stage 4 melanoma, sat down in an exclusive interview with “Good Morning America” to give a rare glimpse inside his world ahead of the 2025 season.
The revelation of his battle while owning and running a team was first mentioned in the new Netflix docuseries, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.”
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“The effort to make the docuseries had us retracing a lot of our years and my steps,” Jones said. “A part of that steps was a very significant effort to have treatments in several places.”
Jones confirmed he is now tumor free thanks to treatment at the world renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, which included an experimental immunotherapy that blocks a specific protein called PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death protein 1).
Despite the very advanced diagnosis of skin cancer, Jones said there was never a moment where he thought it was too much or to take a step back.
“It was motivational. And it basically gave strength,” he said. “I can look no further than the players on the field out here. These guys play hurt — and they line up out there every day and go. And there’s no question that being around that atmosphere makes you realize that it’s really OK if you don’t feel all right.”
The news of his diagnosis was only a portion of the eight-part chronicled stories of the 82-year-old’s Hall of Fame career, from a curious child with a love for the game to an ambitious businessman who took one of the biggest “gambles” in sports.
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“I got to be involved because there was no money around and so I was the only idiot that would step up. And I didn’t have enough,” Jones reflected. “I did it with mirrors and smoke and a little finesse around and I was able to get in the door — and once I got in that door… I just can’t tell you how much that was, especially from the vantage point I had, which was at the bottom.”
Decades later, the Dalla Cowboys have become one of the most profitable brands, worth nearly $13 billion today.
“I’m the number one salesman of the NFL and I love the game,” he said. “Many aspects of it are just bigger than life and can be shown and our fans can get to be a part of that beyond when just we score a touchdown.”
Jones’ rise to the top has not come without controversy, but he didn’t get there by pleasing everyone. The unapologetic executive recently stirred new controversy with the trade of star rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers after contentious contract negotiations.
“We have two kinds of capital or currency in the NFL one of them is draft picks and the other is the financial, because every team is limited to the same amount of resources to spend,” Jones began. “Having said that, Micah enabled us to have four, possibly as may as six players, for the future. That’s a good trade when you need numbers — I’ll take the numbers every time.”
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This season, Jones has hopes of leading the Cowboys to the Super Bowl after a nearly 30 year drought.
Above all else in his life, Jones said his family with three children who remain the heartbeat of the business, are his number one priority.
“They really are as much a part of what we’re talking about, the life in football and sport and the challenges and the euphoria that goes with it,” he said. “There’s much part of that as me.”
When asked to consider what his legacy will be, Jones said, “I hope right there at that top they said he was a good daddy.”
“America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” is streaming now on Netflix.
