When did Jerry Jones buy the Dallas Cowboys? Exploring billionaire owner's opportunistic move

When Jerry Jones first had the dream to own a professional football franchise in 1966, he was 23 years old and just graduated from the University of Arkansas. A minority stake in the upstart Miami Dolphins was offered to him, but the young man who desired to be in the spotlight was not satisfied.

Fast forward to 1989, Jones bought the Cowboys, a team that had been a major franchise in Dallas. At the time, the Cowboys had won two Super Bowls and brought aboard several legendary individuals, including quarterback Roger Staubach and head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys were already dubbed "America's Team" by the NFL media at the peak of their dominance.

When Jones chose the Cowboys, his financial experts reportedly pleaded with him not to, but he refused to back down and, on Feb. 25, 1989, agreed to pay $140 million to gain ownership of the franchise from H.R. "Bum" Bright.

How many Super Bowls have the Cowboys won under Jerry Jones?

As soon as Jerry Jones took over the Dallas Cowboys, he made several adjustments and swiftly put the franchise on the right track.

Dallas won Super Bowls in 1993, 1994 and 1996 with Jones in charge. The Cowboys have made it to the postseason 18 times throughout the Jones era.

In Jan. 1993, the Cowboys made their first participation in the Super Bowl under Jones' ownership. It was the team's sixth Super Bowl appearance, and they defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17. A then-record 133.4 million people tuned in to watch the game on TV.

After defeating the Bills once more in Jan. 1994, Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson won their second Super Bowl together. However, Jones dismissed Johnson as the team's head coach and replaced him with Barry Switzer a few months later.

Switzer won another Super Bowl in just his second season, making it three under Jerry Jones' ownership. The Cowboys then became the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years.

The Cowboys have become the most valuable sports team in the world under Jerry Jones

When Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys, the organization was struggling financially. He later turned the team into the world's most valuable professional sports team.

As of 2024, Forbes estimates that the Cowboys are the most valuable NFL team, valued at $10.1 billion. Forbes also ranks the franchise as the most valuable sports team in the world, with a significant edge over the NBA's second-placed Golden State Warriors, valued at $8.8 billion.