My Football Story
I’ve been a football girlie all my life. Sundays in my house meant football all day with my dad, cheering for his beloved New York Jets while I learned about on-side kicks, blitz coverages, and the flow of the game. As I got older, not much changed. I’ve been lucky enough to attend three professional games, and for the past 15 years, I’ve proudly claimed the Green Bay Packers as my team (shout out to my ex-husband for that conversion).
In 2022, I got to check a few stadiums off my list—Packers v. Chiefs (preseason), Bears v. Vikings, and Bills v. Chiefs. All three were epic matchups and gave me memories I’ll never forget as a fan. Being in the stands, surrounded by the energy of those games, reminded me why my ultimate football goal is to see a game in every stadium.
So, when Netflix dropped America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, I didn’t hesitate. I pressed play immediately… and then watched it again.
Why This Documentary Stands Out
Let me say this first: I will always despise the Cowboys fan base. They are obnoxious, delusional, and live off past glory. That said, the documentary took me back to a nostalgic era of football greatness, reminding me exactly why I fell in love with the game.
It was also a reminder of just how powerful marketing, branding, and winning seasons can be. Like so many kids in the ‘90s, I once had Cowboys jerseys and posters plastered on my walls—not because I loved the team, but because Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and Deion Sanders were stars. The Cowboys weren’t just a football team; they were a cultural phenomenon.
Jerry Jones: The Gambler
If there’s one takeaway from the documentary, it’s that Jerry Jones is equal parts genius and gambler. The nickname The Gambler couldn’t be more perfect.
Some of his biggest (and riskiest) moves:
- Firing a legend: Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989 and promptly fired Tom Landry, who had coached the team for 29 years. Landry’s last five seasons? A 36–43 record, two playoff appearances, and no wins. Brutal, but true.
- The Herschel Walker trade: Jones traded his star running back to Minnesota for five players—only to cut them for five draft picks. Those picks set the stage for Dallas to draft Emmitt Smith and others who built a dynasty.
- Business over tradition: Jones broke NFL rules by striking independent brand deals with Pepsi, Nike, and others. Today, thanks to him, teams generate massive revenue streams outside of league deals. The result? The Cowboys are now the most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth an estimated $11 billion.
- The Fox deal: Partnering with Rupert Murdoch, Jones helped secure a $1.6 billion TV contract with Fox. It changed football forever—and put “NFL on Fox” in our homes every Sunday.
- The Jimmie Johnson fallout: Just two months after winning back-to-back Super Bowls in early 1994, Jones fired head coach Jimmie Johnson after a bitter power struggle. It was one of the boldest and most shocking decisions in NFL history. He later hired Barry Switzer, who went on to win another Super Bowl with Johnson’s roster in 1996. The fallout also led to a 30-year feud between Jones and Johnson—most famously over who truly deserved credit for the Herschel Walker trade that built the dynasty. The feud finally came to an end when Johnson was enshrined in the Cowboys Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium in 2023, a moment that brought closure to decades of tension.
For all the criticism he gets, Jones turned football into big business. But at the same time, moves like this are why Super Bowl tickets are now out of reach for the average fan. Super Bowl LIX? An average of $8,000 per ticket. Lowest $2k, highest $12k. That’s not family-friendly football anymore. But, that’s a blog post for another day 😉
The Team of the ’90s
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t just win games in the 1990s—they defined the decade. Between 1992 and 1996, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls in four years (Super Bowls XXVII in 1993, XXVIII in 1994, and XXX in 1996), cementing their dynasty status.
Their path to glory ran through the NFC Championship, where they faced their fiercest rival—the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys won the NFC title in 1992, 1993, and 1995, defeating the 49ers twice before falling to them in 1994. These heavyweight matchups weren’t just games; they were eras-defining battles that decided who would dominate the NFL in the ’90s.
With Troy Aikman leading the offense, Emmitt Smith rewriting the record books as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, and Michael Irvin dominating as one of the best wide receivers in the league, the “Triplets” became household names. Their swagger matched their success, as the Cowboys embodied both the glitz and grit of the decade. Whether you loved them or hated them, you paid attention—and that’s why they became the unquestioned Team of the ’90s.
Storytelling & Player Voices
What really made the documentary special was the storytelling from the people who lived it. Former players and coaches like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Charles Haley, Jimmie Johnson, Deion Sanders, and Barry Switzer were raw, emotional, and unapologetically honest.
We got breakdowns of game-time plays, rival perspectives from Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, and San Francisco 49ers icons Steve Young and Jerry Rice. The rivalries felt alive again.
One wild fact I didn’t know? Jerry Jones and Jimmie Johnson were teammates and National Champions at the University of Arkansas in 1964. To see how their relationship unraveled years later in Dallas made their story even more compelling.
My Best Moments & WOW Moments
- Best Moment: Jerry Jones riding in the ambulance with Michael Irvin after his devastating injury in 1999. He stayed on the phone with Irvin’s wife the entire ride. That humanity—beyond the business—stuck with me.
- WOW Moment: Learning Troy Aikman had 14 concussions by the end of his career in 2000. He has no memory of the 1993 NFC Championship game against the 49ers, despite throwing for 322 yards and two touchdowns. Imagine having one of the best games of your career… and not remembering it.
Final Thoughts
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys isn’t just a documentary about the Dallas Cowboys. It’s about how football changed—on the field, in the front office, and in American culture.
Even if you’re like me and can’t stand the Cowboys’ fan base, this documentary is worth watching for the history, the nostalgia, and the insight into how one man’s risks reshaped the NFL.
Football is never just about the game—it’s about the people, the business, and the stories we tell long after the final whistle blows. And for me, the story keeps going: next season, I’ll finally step into Lambeau Field to celebrate my 40th birthday. After a lifetime of being a football girlie, that moment will feel like my own personal Super Bowl.
Black. Girl. Iowa. 