In a stunning revelation that’s sending shockwaves through the NFL, player agents have labeled the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys as the league’s most unstable franchises. A recent survey conducted by NFL insider Ben Standig polled 24 agents, who didn’t hold back in calling out the organizational chaos plaguing these two storied teams. The Bengals topped the list with 5.5 votes, while the Cowboys trailed closely with 3.5, painting a damning picture of front-office dysfunction that could jeopardize their futures.
Rounding out the top four were the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, each garnering three votes. But it’s Cincinnati and Dallas that drew the sharpest criticism, with agents pointing to outdated management practices, contentious contract negotiations, and a lack of accountability as the root causes of their instability.
The Bengals’ front office took the brunt of the criticism, with agents slamming their approach as antiquated and disorganized. “There’s always some kind of issue there, and not much accountability,” one agent remarked, highlighting the team’s tumultuous offseason. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the entirety of training camp before securing a restructured deal worth $14 million in guaranteed money. Similarly, first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart missed the first three days of camp over contract language disputes—issues other teams resolved far earlier.
At the heart of the Bengals’ struggles is their ownership structure. Team owner Mike Brown maintains a tight grip on daily operations, with several family members entrenched in key front-office roles. One agent described it as a “mom and pop ownership” model, arguing that the organization lags behind the modern NFL’s standards for negotiation and adaptability. This old-school approach, critics say, fosters an environment of mistrust and inefficiency, alienating players and agents alike.
The Dallas Cowboys, led by the ever-polarizing Jerry Jones, didn’t escape the agents’ wrath either. The 82-year-old billionaire owner, known for his hands-on approach to every football decision, was lambasted for running the team like a personal fiefdom. “An 82-year-old billionaire thinks he knows how to run a football team, and all the yes men around him nod along,” one agent quipped, capturing the frustration with Jones’ micromanagement.
Jones’ habit of bypassing agents to negotiate directly with players has further soured his reputation. This approach, seen as a power play, has created an adversarial dynamic that agents view as a major red flag. The offseason drama surrounding superstar linebacker Micah Parsons only amplified these concerns. After a prolonged standoff, Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks—a move that, while yielding valuable assets, underscored the Cowboys’ inability to retain top talent amid front-office turmoil.
While both the Bengals and Cowboys boast rosters brimming with talent and have enjoyed on-field success, their behind-the-scenes dysfunction threatens to derail their long-term prospects. Agents, who play a pivotal role in shaping player careers, are losing faith in these organizations’ ability to operate effectively. From Cincinnati’s outdated ownership structure to Dallas’ combative negotiation tactics, the issues run deep.
For the Bengals and Cowboys to shed their “dysfunctional” label, winning games won’t be enough. Modernizing their leadership, fostering transparent communication, and rebuilding trust with players and agents will be critical steps toward stability. Until then, these franchises risk alienating the very talent that fuels their success, leaving their futures hanging in the balance.