As the 83-year-old Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, sat in front of the mic at his end-of-season news conference in early January, he made his wish apparent: “My goal in life is to retire as the owner that won the most Super Bowls.” He paused for three seconds as he allowed his words to register, his hands forming fists, and the smile on his face disappearing. He probably replayed the early 90s rush, then repeated as if putting the message into the universe would make it happen.

The reality, however, is drastically far from where he wishes it to be. His competitor is the New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, holding six rings. That team was a Super Bowl finalist in February. The Cowboys, on the other hand, failed to make it to the playoffs for the second straight time. Obviously, something has to give.
His former quarterback, Troy Aikman – who is currently busy helping the Miami Dolphins – offered his advice, but never got the call, something a former Cowboys wide receiver isn’t able to digest.

“When we know for a fact that Jerry is asking and consulting a bunch of other people that he probably should not,” Jesse Holley said via the DLLS Cowboys’ post on X. “And to leave out Troy, to me, is the highest level of malpractice of front office, GMing, whatever you want to call it. This level of malpractice. That is another one of the small indicators of why this thing has gone so wrong in the last 30 years.”

Soon after he retired from the NFL, Troy Aikman wanted to be in some front office role. But the opportunity never came. However, he still wanted to temporarily help teams, an opportunity he found with the Dolphins, who took the Washington Commanders’ approach from 2024. The team consulted former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers in their GM and coaching searches back then.

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After a terrible 7-10 record, the Miami Dolphins wanted to rebuild their roster from the top. They also wanted someone from the outside who had enough experience and connections to give them the best advice. Who better to do it than Aikman?

He has experienced the complete organizational cycle in Dallas – from their 90s dynasty with the three Super Bowls to the decline that followed. He knows what championship infrastructure looks like. He knows the warning signs when it starts crumbling.

His broadcasting roles with FOX and ESPN only helped him garner the trust of people around the league. That’s why Holley’s frustration is understandable, especially given that Aikman warned Jones all the way back in 2019.

“I doubt it. I mean, I think that’s (becoming Dallas’ GM is) a real long shot,” Aikman told 1310 The Ticket in Dallas then. “I believe that it’s unlikely that Jerry will ever bring somebody in that can help this football team in that regard just because he’s been real stubborn and steadfast, in that he’s the one in charge.

“I think in a lot of ways until that changes, this team’s going to have some problems.”

Jones has always been controlling. It was the very reason why he wanted to be the GM when he bought the Cowboys. And while he thinks of it as his MO, “to be involved in everything, from socks to jocks, that there is with the Dallas Cowboys,” it’s now hurting the team. On the other hand, the Dolphins are already putting Aikman to more work.

They welcomed new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley from the Green Bay Packers through Aikman’s advice, who sat in each of the interviews. Now, they are using him to improve their roster. But it begs one to question, has it never occurred to Dallas to use him in this capacity or a similar one?

“I mean, as a consultant, Will McClay [vice president for football personnel] doesn’t get to do it in Dallas, and he’s been there a long time,” Aikman said in a March 31 interview with the DLLS Cowboys. “The Cowboys have never elected to do that, at least with me. Maybe they have with others.” 

Aikman’s run in Dallas included three Super Bowl wins, a Super Bowl MVP title, and six Pro Bowl selections, among other records. In fact, he’s the central piece of that era’s iconic trio with Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. He has also experienced the team growing and then demolishing itself in his years there. Yet, Jones never contacted him. 

“Listen, I’ve had a lot of lunches and a lot of great times with Troy,” Jones said of Aikman’s frustration with him. “He’s someone that I can’t tell you how much I respect him and how much I appreciate his lineage with the Dallas Cowboys. Apart from these kinds of issues, we’ve had business together. So we’re doing fine.”

The Cowboys, however, are not.

The team had a good offense in 2025, ranking seventh in the league for points scored under Dak Prescott. The defense, though, could not match up. After a 7-9-1 season, they released cornerback Trevon Diggs and fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after the team allowed 511 points, the most — by four touchdowns — in franchise history

Jones still hopes to do something with the gamble he took on Prescott. Meanwhile, Aikman shared his thoughts on his new role at Miami.

Troy Aikman shares excitement for Miami’s 2026 season

In January, the Dolphins welcomed Aikman as their temporary consultant to assist with their offseason revamp. He took on the role on January 2, while serving as a broadcaster for the league and carrying out other ventures. After his appointment, the former Dallas quarterback weighed in on what led to his hiring.

“I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league and knowing that I have information that they don’t have or can’t get,” Aikman said. “And I think they were smart in taking advantage of that, whether it was through me or through somebody else.”

Despite his eleven-year stint with the Cowboys, Troy didn’t shy away from admitting that he’ll be supporting Miami this season. He claimed that he’s invested in their journey now, while acknowledging the challenges of rebuilding a team from scratch. Aikman believes the 2026 season won’t be easy.

With roster and salary cap challenges following the departure of Tua Tagovailoa, the team could face early struggles. Still, he remains hopeful, and his confidence stems from the talented additions the Dolphins have made since the past season ended. Over in Dallas, Jerry Jones also looks forward to a stronger season after a catastrophic defensive performance last year.