‘I’m Not Sure That I Know How To Hire A Coach’: Jerry Jones Recalls Paul Tagliabue Request, Defends Dallas Cowboys Hiring
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday that former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue once asked him to lead a committee teaching other owners how to hire head coaches. Jones told the story on 105.3 The Fan’s “Shan & RJ”, while defending how he hires coaches.
Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989. Tagliabue became commissioner that same year and served until 2006. Jones said the request came about eight years into his ownership.
“When I first got in here, the NFL, the commissioner asked me, Paul Tagliabue at the time, after about eight years, he said, ‘I want you to head a committee that speaks to all the owners because you’re doing such a good job with hiring your head coaches,’” Jones said.
“I said, ‘Commissioner, I need to be sitting in the audience because I’ve run out of teammates. I’ve run out of ex-coaches. I’m not sure that I know how to hire a coach. I need to be out in the audience listening to somebody that does,’” Jones continued.
Jerry Jones Says Cowboys Can Be ‘Creative’ In Hiring Coaches
Jones’ first two head coaches, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, came straight from college football, and both won Super Bowls in Dallas. Jones said Tuesday that there is no link between what a team pays coaches and winning, and that teams can be creative in who they hire.
“You can be pretty creative in hiring your coaches. You can be creative sometimes when you don’t even know you’re hiring the coaches,” Jones explained. “And so I’ve had some good experience of hiring people who have never been in the NFL. I’ve had some experience of hiring young coaches, older coaches. And so, and of course, you constantly remind me, as you should, of what my record is. And I understand that.”
“But I also know that the next time you throw the pick, if you were the old California gold miner, you may hit the Comstock Lode,” Jones added.
Jones Says Cowboys Rest ‘On My Shoulder’
Jones also addressed the notion that he wants credit for his hires. He said he bought the team as an occupation, not an investment.
“Well, there has never been, for me, any thought that what happens after I bought the Dallas Cowboys, what happens to the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t ultimately rest on my shoulder,” Jones said. “I didn’t come into the NFL for an investment. It was a bad investment, and everybody told me so. It was a risky investment. I came in for an occupation. I came in to do what I was going to do when I was 46 for the rest of my life.”
Dallas is 3-5 and 10-14-1 under Brian Schottenheimer. The Cowboys visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.
