The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world according to Forbes. And while that doesn’t mean that owner Jerry Jones has unlimited cash flow, it does mean that Jones and the Cowboys are uniquely positioned to leverage their financial might to build a good NFL team.
However, Jones opts not to do that. He doesn’t spend in free agency. He doesn’t manipulate contracts so as to get the absolute most out of the NFL salary cap, and perhaps most importantly, he doesn’t like to pay coaches. That last aspect came to the forefront recently when Texas Longhorns running backs coach (and former Cowboys player) Tashard Choice rejected a job with Cowboys in order to stay with the Longhorns.
Tashard Choice Spurns The Dallas Cowboys For Same Job With Detroit Lions
That alone would’ve been pretty embarrassing for an organization that believes it’s the premier franchise in all of football. But it gets worse. On Thursday, Choice agreed to a deal with the Detroit Lions to become their new running backs coach.
Choice received a raise from Texas when he turned down the Cowboys and reports suggest he’ll see an even bigger pay raise to join the Lions. Forbes values the Detroit Lions $4.1 billion. Dallas is valued at $10.1 billion. Detroit’s operating income in 2024 was an estimated $56 million Dallas’ was $564 million.
There is no world where the Cowboys should ever lose out on a coach to the Lions. There is no limit on what teams can spend on a staff. But there is a limit on what teams are willing to spend. So if Cowboys fans ever wonder why it is their team is going on 30 years without an NFC Championship Game appearance, the answers are right there in front of you.
