Jerry Jones facts for kids
_(cropped).jpg)
Jones in 2017
|
|
| Dallas Cowboys | |
|---|---|
| Position: |
|
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 13, 1942 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | North Little Rock (AR) |
| College: | Arkansas (1962–1964) |
| Career history | |
| As executive: | |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
|
Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
|
Jerral Wayne Jones Sr. (born October 13, 1942) is a well-known American businessman. He is the owner, president, and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL). He bought the team in 1989.
Under Jones's leadership, the Dallas Cowboys have won three Super Bowl championships. He is one of the few NFL owners who also played football at a high level. Even though some of his decisions have been debated, Jones has helped the Cowboys become one of the most valuable sports teams in the world. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jerry Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1945. His parents owned grocery stores there. Jones played running back for North Little Rock High School and graduated in 1960.
After high school, his family moved to Springfield, Missouri. His father became successful in the insurance business. Jerry Jones attended the University of Arkansas. He was a co-captain of the 1964 national championship football team. He played as an offensive lineman. After college, he worked for his family's insurance company. Later, his family started an animal park called Buena Vista Animal Paradise.
College Football Success
At the University of Arkansas, Jones was a teammate of Jimmy Johnson. Johnson later became the first head coach Jones hired for the Cowboys. Their team, the Razorbacks, won a national championship in 1964. This showed Jones's early connection to successful football.
Business Ventures Before the Cowboys
After college, Jerry Jones tried several business ideas. He borrowed money to open Shakey's Pizza Parlor restaurants, but that didn't work out. He also worked for his father's insurance company.
Later, Jones started an oil and gas exploration business in Arkansas. This company, Jones Oil and Land Lease, became very successful. It focused on finding natural resources. In 2008, Jones also helped create Legends Hospitality. This company provides food, drinks, and merchandise for sports and entertainment venues.
Owning the Dallas Cowboys
On February 25, 1989, Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys for $140 million. Soon after, he made big changes. He hired his former college teammate, Jimmy Johnson, as the new head coach. Johnson had just led the University of Miami to a national championship. Jones also took over as the team's general manager, meaning he made all the decisions about players.
The Cowboys had a tough first season under Jones, winning only one game. But they quickly improved. They became one of the best NFL teams in the 1990s. The Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII in 1992 and Super Bowl XXVIII in 1993. After Johnson left, Barry Switzer became head coach and led the team to another Super Bowl win in 1995 (Super Bowl XXX).
When Jones bought the team, it was losing money. Now, the Cowboys are worth billions of dollars. Many people credit Jones with helping the NFL become financially successful. He played a big part in getting important television deals for the league.
Challenges and Criticisms
Even with the Cowboys' early success, Jones has faced criticism. Some fans were upset when he fired popular team figures like coach Tom Landry. Landry had been the only coach in Cowboys history before Jones bought the team. Jones later said he regretted how he handled Landry's firing.
Fans also sometimes criticize Jones for being very visible and involved with the team. He acts as both the owner and the general manager. This means he makes many important decisions about the team's players and coaches. Some people believe this hands-on approach has contributed to the team's struggles in recent decades.
Jones also had disagreements with coach Jimmy Johnson, even after winning two Super Bowls together. It took many years for Jones to honor Johnson by adding him to the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2023.
Jones has also been fined by the NFL. For example, he was fined for publicly criticizing a referee in 2008. In 2009, he was fined for talking about labor issues when he was not supposed to.
Historical Context and Reflection
In 2022, a photo from 1957 surfaced showing a 14-year-old Jerry Jones. The photo showed him as a bystander during a time when schools in North Little Rock, Arkansas, were beginning to integrate. White students were trying to prevent African-American students from entering the high school. Jones stated he was there out of curiosity. He later expressed regret that he didn't do more to help the Black students feel more welcome.
Awards and Honors
Jerry Jones has received many awards and honors for his contributions to football and business:
- NFL
* Three-time Super Bowl champion (as owner, president, and GM of the Dallas Cowboys) * 2014 NFL Executive of the Year
- NCAA
* 1964 College Football National Championship (as a player for the Arkansas Razorbacks)
- Halls of Fame
* Pro Football Hall of Fame (class of 2017)
- Other
* 1993 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement * 2013 Horatio Alger Award
Personal Life
Jerry Jones is married to Eugenia Chambers, whom he met in college. They have three children: Stephen, Charlotte, and Jerry Jones Jr.. All three of his children work for the Dallas Cowboys in important leadership roles.
As of November 2024, Jones's net worth is reported to be over $16 billion. Most of this wealth comes from his ownership of the Dallas Cowboys, which is considered one of the most valuable sports teams in the world.
In 2022, Jones was involved in a legal matter concerning a woman who claimed to be his biological daughter. A court decision in February 2024 required Jones to undergo a paternity test related to this claim.
Images for kids
-
Jones in 2015
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Jones para niños
