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Highlighted by Super Bowl victories following the
1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons, Jones became the first owner in NFL history to guide his team
to three league championships in his first seven years of ownership.
The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s maintained a championship level of
excellence throughout the decade by winning a league-high six division titles, earning
four NFC Championship Game appearances and claiming the ultimate prize three times. Dallas
also became the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four seasons.
All of this has been accomplished since Jones’ 1989 purchase of the
team – at a period of time when the proud franchise was struggling through its most
difficult era in club history. For the first time since 1964, the Cowboys had posted
losing seasons for three consecutive years, and the club had closed the 1988 and 1989
seasons with the worst record in the NFL.
In the ensuing years of Jones’ ownership, fans of the Dallas Cowboys
witnessed what might have been the most impressive and visible turnaround in the history
of professional sports. A team that closed the 1980s with a pair of seasons that netted
just four wins would go on to win more division titles and league championships than any
other franchise in the 1990s.
Jones’ immediate vision in 1989 was to put a championship team on the
field, while also restoring the pride of a fan following that spans the nation and reaches
all corners of the world. In a matter of months, that vision became reality. By January of
1993, the Cowboys earned a Super Bowl championship for the first time in 15 seasons, and
the following year, the Cowboys became the fifth team to win back-to-back Super Bowl
crowns.
In 1995, the Dallas Cowboys became the first NFL franchise to win three
Super Bowls in a four year period of time, while tying the NFL record for the most Super
Bowl victories by an organization with five. In 1996, the club claimed its fifth straight
division title, a feat that had never been accomplished by any NFC Eastern Division team.
After a one-year absence from postseason play in 1997, the Cowboys regained the NFC East
crown in 1998 with a new head coach in Chan Gailey. After a playoff season in 1999, Jones
tabbed Dave Campo as the fifth head coach in team history on January 26, 2000.
Jones has established himself as one of the NFL’ s most influential
and active owners in his 11 years at the Cowboys helm. His "hands on" leadership
ability has played a major role in the resurgence of the Cowboys, and his contributions to
the National Football League have been prominent and productive: In the last 21 years, 22
different owners have entered the National Football League. Of that group, only Jerry
Jones has guided his franchise to more than two Super Bowl championships. Moreover, Jones
joins Art Rooney, Jack Kent Cooke, Al Davis and Eddie DeBartolo as the only men to have
won at least three Super Bowls as owners.
The fan following and interest in the current era of the Cowboys has
reached unprecedented levels in the national and international spotlight. In the 1990s,
the Cowboys compiled an NFL record by playing in front of 160 straight sold out stadiums
(home and away). In addition, Dallas' three most recent Super Bowl appearances represent
the three most watched television programs in history.
As a member of the league's
Broadcasting Committee, Jones was a key player in the agreement that
introduced the FOX Network to the NFL as the rights holder for the NFC
television package in 1993. In addition, he was a prominent voice in the
most recent NFL television agreement that set the standard for all of
professional sports in terms of network television partnerships.
Vice President:
Stephen Jones
Named a Cowboys Vice President in February of 1989, Jones coordinates the
Cowboys’ entire player personnel department. He oversees the negotiation of all
player contracts, management of the salary cap, the operation of Texas Stadium and a wide
range of other club related duties.
Recognized as Owner Jerry Jones’ right hand man, Stephen Jones has
played an integral role in the team’s rise from a 1-15 record in 1989 to three Super
Bowl victories and six NFC East titles in the last eight seasons.
In the ever-evolving role of the salary cap in the current collective
bargaining agreement, Jones’ performance in managing the Cowboys player payroll has
played a prominent role in the team’s ability to compete at the NFL’s highest
level.
Jones’ involvement in shaping the Dallas roster under the salary cap
has been critical in allowing the Cowboys to maintain one of the NFL’s most talented
core group of players throughout the decade of the 1990s.
In the months leading up to the 2000 season, Jones played a key role in
the Cowboys aggressive approach to free agency. He was instrumental in negotiating a
long-term contract that allowed Dallas to trade for wide receiver Joey Galloway. In
addition, the signings of TE Jackie Harris, QB Randall Cunningham, LBs Joe Bowden and
Barron Wortham and CB Ryan McNeil ensured a very productive free agent period for the
Cowboys.
In 1999, his hard work helped Dallas land wide receiver Raghib
“Rocket” Ismail, who led the team with 80 receptions last season, and center
Mark Stepnoski, combined with the long term contract extension of quarterback Troy Aikman,
helped the Cowboys earn their eighth playoff appearance in the 1990s.
During a historic two-year period of time, Jones was involved in signing
five Cowboys stars to the most lucrative contracts ever paid for players at their
respective positions. Between September of 1993 and September of 1995, Jones helped
orchestrate contract agreements that made Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, quarterback
Troy Aikman, fullback Daryl Johnston, wide receiver Michael Irvin and cornerback Deion
Sanders the highest paid NFL players to ever play their positions at the time of their
signings.
In the summer of 1992, Stephen Jones was the key figure in the negotiation
and signing of 13 veteran contracts - enabling the Cowboys to start the season with a
complete roster en route to their run to the Super Bowl XXVII title.
In April of 1991, Jones was part of a Dallas college draft effort that saw
the Cowboys select 17 players – all of whom were under contract prior to the start of
training camp. In addition, 14 of the 17 players drafted by Dallas went on to earn roster
spots in the NFL.
Entering his 11th year as a NFL executive, Jones has enjoyed a life-long
association with the game of football. A four-year letterman as a linebacker and special
teams stand-out at the University of Arkansas, Jones was a starter for the Razorbacks in
the Orange Bowl Classic that followed the 1986 season.
Prior to attending the University of Arkansas, Jones was an all-state
quarterback and a three-year starter at Catholic High School in Little Rock, AR. He
graduated from Arkansas in 1988 with a degree in chemical engineering and went to work in
the oil and gas business for JMC Exploration as an engineer.
On Feb. 25, 1989, Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys and installed
Stephen into a key front office position as one of three vice presidents with the club.
Jones is actively involved with the Young Presidents Organization. He also serves on the
board of directors for the Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation and the G.T.E./
S.M.U. Athletic Forum.
Jones (6/21/64) was born and raised in Little Rock. He is married to the
former Karen Hickman of El Dorado, AR, and the couple has three daughters and a son:
Jessica (8/24/92), Jordan (10/8/93), Caroline (4/4/97) and John Stephen, Jr. (4/19/99).
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