Jerry Jones explains George Pickens contract stance and insists Cowboys have ‘great’ Super Bowl shot
Jerry Jones is chasing Super Bowl glory and he knows he isn’t getting any younger.
The Dallas Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1996.
But the chances of ending their 30-year drought may have been bolstered after reports emerged that the Cowboys are expected to place their franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens.
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin spoke exclusively to talkSPORT during Super Bowl LX’s radio row, where he said that it was imperative that the team keep hold of the 24-year-old wideout.
“Dallas has to do everything they can to retain him, but I believe — and I’m going to state this — George has to do what he can to make sure that happens,” Irvin said.
Jones and the Cowboys brass appear to agree.
“I know that it fit like a glove. He excelled,” Jones exclusively told talkSPORT of Pickens’ acquisition at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party red carpet event on Saturday.
“He loves football. [We] loved what he brought to the table.”
Pickens, who was once described as a ‘problem’ for the Pittsburgh Steelers which ultimately led to his trade, earned just $3.65 million in base salary in 2025 as he was in the final year of his rookie contract.
He was expected to command upwards of $20 million on the free agency market to align with that of some of the NFL’s leading receivers.
But after a campaign in which he led the Cowboys in receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (9), the franchise tag now guarantees him $28-plus million next season.
“He is an outstanding playmaker,” Jones continued. “He complements our quarterback and our other personnel. [CeeDee] Lamb, some of our other top receivers, he complements it well.
“And the running game we want to add. He gives us a great chance to get to where we’re not playing today.”
Super Bowl trajectory under Brian Schottenheimer
The Cowboys got off to a torrid start to the 2025 NFL season, entering the campaign without star pass rusher Micah Parsons after Jones dealt him to the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster trade one week before their season opener.
Under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer they entered their Week 10 bye week with a 3-5-1 record, despite veteran quarterback Dak Prescott having one of the best years of his career.
But there were also some mitigating factors, such as having to contend with the sudden loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland after his tragic passing in November at the age of 24.
How Schottenheimer helped his team regroup, though, was admirable according to Jones.
“When you’re starting, you learn so much every game, every practice,” the 83-year-old told talkSPORT. “And that’s how it should be.
“But the way that he handled our adverse situations throughout the year, and we had plenty of them for him. But the way he handled them, the way he worked and coached through them.
“His posture with the players and posture with the staff was more than you could have ever expected from a first-year head coach in the NFL.
“A lot of that has to do with him being around [the NFL] since he was born with his great father Marty Schottenheimer. So we’re proud of Schotty, and proud of what he’ll do in the future.”
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World Cup fever brewing
While the Cowboys will be looking at how they can establish themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the NFC, there is other excitement looming for Jones at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was named as one of the 16 venues and will host both group stage and knockout games.
It will be simply known as Dallas Stadium due to FIFA’s legislation over non-sponsor corporate names at their venues.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am for that type of football to be played at that level to be played at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium,” Jones told talkSPORT.
“It’s a privilege. The players that are the best in the world are going to be playing there and I’m going to hang on every play so to speak.”
Despite all the excitement around the upcoming World Cup, Jones has firmly closed the door on ever considering an ownership stake in a soccer team across the pond.
“I really have a love for sport in general. But I made up my mind when I put it all in and I mean what I didn’t have I put in.
“And I said, ‘I’m gonna make this my deal. I’m gonna give everything I can to the Cowboys every way I can and I’m going to leave it at that’, although I am a great fan of all sports.
“I don’t think that there is anything that is any more important to teach lessons to young people, whether they’re participants or not.”
Dallas Stadium’s first game to kick off a summer of soccer will be the Group F contest between the Netherlands and Japan on June 14.
They will then host England vs Croatia in Group L on June 17 and reigning champions Lionel Messi and Argentina facing Austria on June 22.
The stadium will play host to more matches throughout the tournament, and will conclude with the first of the two semi-finals on July 14.
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