Netflix's Next Sports Epic: The Cowboys, Jerry Jones, And A Dynasty That Defined The NFL
Dropping this weekend (on August 9), the series chronicles Jerry Jones' 1989 purchase of the then-struggling Cowboys and how that gamble transformed the NFL forever. Under Jones' watch, the Cowboys became not only three-time Super Bowl champions in the '90s but also the most valuable sports franchise on the planet. The series blends never-before-seen footage with interviews from players, coaches, and even fans to tell the story of how calculated risks paid off in spectacular fashion. Basically, the series is built around the Cowboys' inexorable march toward dominance — a period when they went from underperformers to winning multiple Super Bowls. Directed by the Emmy-winning team behind "Wild Wild Country," Netflix's docuseries unpacks how Jones reshaped not just a team, but the entire business of sports.
Read more: 6 TV Shows That Are So Good, I Wish I Could Wipe My Memory And Enjoy Them Again For The First Time
America's Team: The Gambler And His Cowboys Chronicles An NFL Powerhouse
Jones' ownership approach wasn't just about winning games; it was about building a brand. Essentially, he risked his fortune to buy the team and went on to oust a legendary coach. Jones also revolutionized marketing and revenue streams through aggressive sponsorship deals and stadium innovations. This is a business story, in other words, as much as it is one about sports. Also in the docuseries, viewers will hear from players like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders, while head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer recount the highs and lows of steering the team through an era of intense competition and media scrutiny.
The series likewise features insights from big-name fans like former President George W. Bush and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who reflect on the Cowboys' place in American culture. All of that, combined with archival footage, provides fascinating insight about "America's Team," one whose driving force can probably be summed up best by a quote from former quarterback Roger Staubach: "There are no traffic jams along the extra mile."
With the franchise now worth more than $10 billion, "America's Team: The Gamble and His Cowboys" shows exactly how the groundwork for that success was laid in the '90s. And when you're finished watching, don't forget about the halftime performers: Netflix also has "America's Sweethearts," a docuseries looking at the Dallas Cowboys cheer squad that just returned for a second season.
Read the original article on BGR.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 minutes ago
- USA Today
Joel Klatt Gushes Over Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt praises Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, calling him possibly the best player he's seen since starting his college football coverage and predicting a legendary career ahead. FOX Sports analyst and commentator Joel Klatt has set sky-high expectations for Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Klatt couldn't say enough about the Buckeyes' standout, praising his talent and potential with glowing enthusiasm. 'The quarterback is not going to be asked to be Superman for Ohio State,' Klatt said. They should be able to run it well, their defense should be solid, and they've got, I think, the best wide receiver that I've seen in college football since I've been covering college football in Jeremiah Smith. He might be the best player I've seen since I started covering college football. 'There's only two players that I felt like, as their true freshman year, they should be on an NFL field: Adrian Peterson and Jeremiah Smith… Smith is ridiculous. I think Jeremiah Smith — I mean, this is probably too much hype — Jeremiah Smith, if he just keeps working hard and developing, I think he has a chance to be a top five receiver in the history of football.' Joel Klatt's praise for Jeremiah Smith is nothing short of extraordinary, but after the freshman season Smith just had, it might not be so far off the mark. In his first year with the Buckeyes, Smith rewrote the record books. He set a new FBS freshman receiving record with 1,315 yards, finishing the season with 76 receptions, 15 receiving touchdowns, and even added a rushing score. Despite a quiet game against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal, where he managed just one catch for three yards, Smith still left a major impact on the postseason. Across four playoff games, he totaled 19 catches for 381 yards and five touchdowns. He found the end zone twice in both the Rose Bowl against Oregon and in the matchup against Tennessee. His performance in the Rose Bowl was especially electric, recording 7 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. For his outstanding debut season, Smith was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year and earned First-Team All-American honors. With a résumé like that already in hand, Klatt's high expectations suddenly seem very realistic. As of today, Jeremiah Smith holds the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, behind only three quarterbacks: Texas' Arch Manning, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, and Clemson's Cade Klubnik. If Smith has already positioned himself among college football's elite after just one year, his rise is only beginning. All eyes will be on him when he returns to the field for his sophomore season opener as Ohio State faces Texas on August 30 at noon ET.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jen Pawol will be MLB's first female umpire. Here are other women who broke officiating barriers
This weekend, Jen Pawol will make history by becoming the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. She's set to work the series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. The 48-year-old from New Jersey has worked spring training games over the last two years and in the minors since 2016. Here's a look at other female officials who were the first on the floor, court or the field in prominent men's leagues. NFL Shannon Eastin became the first female official in NFL history when she was a line judge during a preseason game in August 2012 between the Green Bay Packers and the Chargers, who were then in San Diego. A month later, she became the first woman to be an official in an NFL regular-season game when she worked as the line judge in the Rams-Lions game. Eastin was among the replacement officials hired by the league during a lockout of the regular officials. The first woman to get a full-season job was Sarah Thomas, who was a line judge in 2015. Thomas also became the first woman to work a Super Bowl when she was part of the seven-person crew on Feb. 7, 2021, when Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9. Thomas was already the first woman to officiate a major college football game — and to work a bowl game. NBA Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner were hired by the National Basketball Association for the 1997 season. Palmer made her NBA debut on Oct. 31, 1997, when she was on the floor for the season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. Palmer worked that night with Bill Oakes and Mark Wunderlich. Kantner's first game was Nov. 5, 1997, when Atlanta beat Philadelphia 93-88. Kantner worked alongside Ron Garretson and Ed Middleton. Palmer retired in 2016, and Kantner is still officiating women's NCAA basketball. NHL The NHL has yet to have a female on-ice official for a regular season or Stanley Cup playoff game. In the mid-1990s, Heather McDaniel received some national attention for officiating men's minor league games for the Central Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League. Two decades later, the NHL selected four female officials to work on the ice at the 2019 prospect tournaments. Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke served as referees, while Kirsten Welsh and Kendall Hanley worked as linesmen. It marked the first time women have officiated at the pre-training camp prospects tournament level. There was a subtle change made before the 2023-24 season when 'linesmen' became 'linespersons,' with women in the American Hockey League working their way up. Men's World Cup French referee Stéphanie Frappart made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman to be in charge of a men's World Cup match. The game between Germany at Costa Rica was held in Al Khor, Qatar. Men's NCAA tournament Melanie Davis was the first woman to officiate a Division I NCAA men's tournament game when she was on the floor for a first-round matchup between San Diego State and Illinois on March 15, 2002.
CNET
2 minutes ago
- CNET
Verizon Promo Offers NFL Sunday Ticket Access at No Extra Cost
It's still the NFL preseason, but ahead of the official 2025-2026 regular season kickoff in September, Verizon, a long-term partner of the league, is offering NFL Sunday Ticket to new and existing mobile and internet customers. You don't even need a paid subscription for YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels. Verizon revived its Sunday Ticket on Us promo on Tuesday, and it will run through Sept. 23, along with an alternative option to get $200 off the sports package for a savings of up to $480. The deal grants football fans access to watch out-of-market Sunday games that aren't broadcast on their local networks. As an added perk, the company is giving out a limited number of free tickets to NFL games. Beginning Thursday at 8 a.m. ET, Verizon users can check the My Verizon app for spontaneous ticket giveaways throughout the season. You'll need a Google account to stream live games on the sports package. This promo expires on Sept. 23, and you must redeem it within 60 days of your purchase or service activation. How to get NFL Sunday Ticket for free from Verizon The wireless company offers multiple ways to get in on the game action, whether you're new or a current customer. How do you know if you're eligible for free access? If you buy a 5G phone from Verizon and sign up for a new line on its myPlan service, you can get the deal. Wireless customers can bring their own phone and add a new line with myPlan to be eligible. Activate one of these internet plans: Fios 1 Gig, Fios 2 Gig, LTE Home Plus or 5G Home Ultimate. Get $200 off the price of Sunday Ticket Existing Verizon phone or home internet customers can still get a discount without switching subscription plans or buying new devices, and returning Sunday Ticket subscribers may also be eligible. Though the offer doesn't apply if you're a Verizon prepaid, business or data-only phone customer, you can sign up for the sports package by Sept. 23 to lock in $200 off the full price.
