DALLAS — Troy Aikman said Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones feel they have done a lot of good things with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, and that he agrees with the assessment. Aikman said it Tuesday on The Rich Eisen Show.
Jones has been the general manager since he bought the team in 1989. Nobody else has held the title in the 37 years since. Aikman was the first overall pick of the draft Jones ran that spring. Stephen Jones is the executive vice president and director of player personnel.
Three weeks ago, Aikman told Dale Hansen the Dallas general manager structure has not worked out. The reason the Cowboys won in the 1990s, he said then, was that every player in the locker room believed Jimmy Johnson was calling the shots.
Aikman believes the defensive problems of a year ago have been fixed and that the excitement around the team is warranted.
“And I know people are really excited about this football team,” Aikman said. “I know the front office, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, they feel like they’ve done a lot of good things. And I would agree with that assessment.”
Dallas went 7-9-1 last season and finished second in the NFC East. Opponents converted 47.3% on third down. The Cowboys got 34 sacks and six interceptions across 17 games.
Troy Aikman On The Dallas Cowboys Defense Under Christian Parker
For the last several years, Aikman said, Dallas has handed the defense to coaches who had already run teams. Dan Quinn, Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus were all NFL head coaches before they were Cowboys coordinators.
“I know in hearing the comments from all of the players, they really like what he has done,” Aikman explained. “They’re excited about it. I think this defense, not only do I think they’re going to be a lot better than they were a year ago, I think they’re going to be a competitive group that could be certainly above average, which a lot of people are talking about if they could just be average paired with that offense.”
Christian Parker replaced Eberflus on Jan. 22. Parker is 34. He is the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise history, and he had never called a defense anywhere. Two seasons in Philadelphia preceded the hire, three in Denver before that.
Aikman said there is no reason to think the Dallas offense cannot keep doing what it has done.
“And I think that’s the frustrating thing for Cowboys fans is last year, he was healthy,” Aikman said. “The offense played exceptionally well, and yet they failed to make the postseason. But all those things will be key once again.”
Dak Prescott started all 17 games last season and threw for 4,552 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Dallas scored 471 points, seventh in the NFL.
What Jerry Jones And Stephen Jones Added This Offseason
The August 2025 trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers brought back Kenny Clark and the draft capital Dallas spent at the deadline on Quinnen Williams. That deal cost a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and Mazi Smith. Williams signed a three-year, $105.9 million extension on Aug. 10 that runs through 2030 and includes $101 million in guarantees. The $35.3 million average is second among defensive tackles.
A 2027 fourth-round pick went to Green Bay in March for Rashan Gary, who had 46.5 sacks over seven seasons there. Von Miller signed a one-year deal on Aug. 16 after a season in Washington. Both first-round picks went to the defense, safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.
Dallas has not reached a conference championship game since the 1995 season. Dallas opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, at the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
