Why does Jerry Jones refuse to spend big on a head coach?(Getty Images)
During his latest appearance on 105.3 The Fan, he defended his hiring philosophy with a blunt message for those questioning his approach. The comments came as Dallas struggled through a 3-5 start to the 2026 NFL season. The Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season, and supporters are growing impatient. The Cowboys appointed Schottenheimer as head coach in January 2025 after he spent two seasons as their offensive coordinator. His first campaign ended with a 7-9-1 record. The offense averaged 27.7 points per game, but defensive problems repeatedly hurt the team’s chances.
Because teams do not have to disclose their financial details, estimates put Schottenheimer’s salary at around $4.5 million, although exact coaching contracts remain difficult to verify. His response came amid criticism over Schottenheimer’s reported salary.
There is no correlation,” Jones said during the radio appearance. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is facing fresh criticism over his decision to keep head coach Brian Schottenheimer on a relatively modest salary. However, Jones does not believe spending more on a coach guarantees better results. Yet Jones remains convinced that finding the right coach matters more than offering the biggest contract. “There is zero correlation [in the NFL] between how much you pay a coach or how many coaches you have as to winning. Several reports have placed the Cowboys coach’s annual earnings below those of the NFL’s highest-paid head coaches.