Stephen Jones, executive vice president of the Dallas Cowboys, is always quick to point out his blessing while serving in the front office of the world’s most valuable sports franchise.
“I just wouldn’t trade anything for the ride we had,” said Jones. “We just loved every second of it.”
A ride that began for Stephen when the cowboys weren’t even a consideration for his family. Instead, Jones, Arkansas, childhood was all about youth sports, especially soccer, and a love of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
“Whether it was a game in Little Rock or a game in Fayetteville, I remember stacking myself in the car and getting so excited to see those soccer games,” said Jones.
And that passion for the razorbacks is why a phone call during his senior football season at Little Rock Catholic High School stands out.
“Coach Holtz called while I was in my father’s office and offered me a scholarship,” said Jones. “Of course I said, ‘Shooting coach, I’m in'”
Jones worked in special teams and eventually started a bowl game in safety for the Razorbacks. Then he got a call from his father, Jerry Jones, who had just bought the Dallas Cowboys.
“He said what do you think of working for the cowboys? I know you have roots in the oil business, but what do you think of learning about the football business? ”Said Jones. “I said, ‘My car is packed in 15 minutes and I’m on my way.'”
“I can’t imagine what went through your head with soccer people who have done this all their professional lives and you, what, are you just trying to adapt?” Said NBC 5 sports reporter Pat Doney.
“That’s it,” said Jones. “I was just trying to learn. We had good people. Larry Lacewell came along shortly after we bought the team and he became a good friend. I learned more about football from him, even though I got a lot from Jimmy (Johnson), a lot from Barry (Switzerland), a lot from Bill Parcells, a lot from Jason Garrett, Wade Phillips and the list goes on, Larry was right there and I have learned a lot from him. “
But Jones also increased his influence with the Cowboys when the NFL introduced a salary cap for the league in 1994, something he believes gave him a chance.
“How did you get on with the salary cap? There was no one else in sport who did that. Have you reached out to other front office executives on professional sports teams? asked Doney.
“I think it was the biggest thing that ever happened to us and why we were successful, even though a lot of it was nearing the cap, but it was a new system and so no one knew,” said Jones. “George Young didn’t know, Bill Polian didn’t know, and of course it’s a lot easier to learn when you’re young.”
He quickly learned the salary cap, but also worked on other large projects outside of football. Jones played a huge role in creating the team’s larger-than-life home, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and recently, with the help of his brother and sister, helped convince his father that the cowboys should work with the town of Frisco to create the everyday home by Americas Team, the star in Frisco.
“We rolled up our sleeves out here and Frisco just couldn’t have been a better opportunity,” said Jones. “Only in Texas, by the way, but they’d earmarked about $ 100 million for a high school stadium. They said they would build it whether we come or not. “
But while working on soccer and business projects, Stephen has also balanced his life as a husband and father of four.
“How has fatherhood changed you?” asked Doney.
“It was because of my parents and how special they were to me,” Jones said. “Not unlike the business world, they set the bar high as a father and my wife as a mother to raise the children.”
All-in while raising his kids in all their glory as Stephen watched his son John Stephen go to the back-to-back state football championships in 2016 and 2017 in quarterback Highland Park High School.
“I’ll say it and Jerry will actually say it and Jerry will say it and I think he means it, too,” said Jones. “I had more fun than our three Super Bowls that we won. It was just amazing to see how this happens and happens before our eyes. I enjoyed every minute. “
He enjoyed every minute he watched as a father, as he cherished the daily opportunity to work with his own father, the man Stephen credits for so much more than just his time with the cowboys – hopefully the time has many years to go in front of you.
“If he starts giving up the baton and it may be a few more years, how ready do you feel for this moment when he’s here?” asked Doney.
“I hate even thinking about it because I want to enjoy every minute and I know my brother and sister do it too, with him,” said Jones. “He’s so special, so energetic at 78, just an amazing mind. I’m not sure if he’s more focused and his mind isn’t spinning faster than it was 20 years ago. He’s just a great mentor and leader. The most important thing is that you just feel like we are partners. Not that he’s sitting right there, not that he’s picking up the phone and calling, it’ll be empty if he’s not right here. But hopefully there is still a long way to go. “
Hopefully there is still a long way to go as Stephen Jones will continue to grow in his role and influence at America’s team because of the relationship he will always cherish, working in the front office of the world’s most valuable sports franchise and always being quick to join point out his blessings along the way.
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