Jerry Jones Rejects Link Between Coach Pay and Cowboys Wins

Jones made the argument during a radio appearance as Dallas faced criticism after a 33-30 loss to Arizona. The defeat was another game in which the Cowboys let a fourth-quarter lead slip away. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s record with Dallas is 10-14-1, and his annual salary is $4.5 million, far below the reported $12 million for Jacksonville’s Liam Coen and $13 million for Chicago’s Ben Johnson.

Jones said a review of NFL teams across multiple years showed no connection between coaching pay or staff size and victories. He also argued that teams can find success by hiring coaches with varied backgrounds, while acknowledging his record as the Cowboys’ decision-maker.

An industry estimate based on conversations with league veterans puts Dallas among the NFL’s five lowest-spending teams on its head coach and coordinators. Coaches whose salaries have risen amid strong demand include Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. Coen and Johnson, both hired in the same cycle as Schottenheimer’s promotion, led their teams to the postseason in their first seasons and have winning records in 2026.

The Cowboys are also struggling on defense. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would not dismiss defensive coordinator Christian Parker merely to make a statement, but would consider a change if it improved the team over time. Dallas is not expected to make a major change before its next game, against the Indianapolis Colts.