Jerry Jones: It's a 'shocker' the Cowboys aren't in Super Bowl
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is surprised the Cowboys aren't in the Super Bowl after re-signing quarterback Dak Prescott.
"I've always made some pretty serious risks in talent. ... I wouldn't have signed Dak Prescott, the highest-paid player in the NFL, if now wasn't when we wanted to win," Jones told The Athletic's Dianna Russini on Friday. "This is a shocker to be here at this Super Bowl and not have the Cowboys here. I didn't plan on that when I made that agreement with him.
"So we're going to do everything we can to get there ... I know what it takes to get there, and we'll do those things."
Jones said in April that the Cowboys were going "all in" during the 2024 offseason, per NFL.com's Grant Gordon. The Cowboys inked Prescott to a four-year, $240-million extension in September and signed star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136-million extension in August.
The quarterback suffered a season-ending hamstring injury during a Nov. 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Lamb's production decreased to only 1,194 receiving yards and six touchdowns compared with 1,749 and 12, respectively, in 2023.
The Cowboys had a mediocre offense with and without Prescott. In the eight games he completed, Prescott averaged 6.9 yards per play and held a 64.7 completion percentage, both the second lowest totals of his career. Dallas was ranked 16th in total yardage and 21st in points per game.
The Cowboys finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs. Jones parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy at the end of the regular season, tapping offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to fill the vacancy.
"This is the best way we can go to the playoffs and win," Jones said of Schottenheimer's hiring Jan. 27.
The Cowboys haven't made an NFC Championship Game since 1995. The team holds the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.