The Dallas Cowboys, America’s Team, are set to captivate audiences once again with a thrilling new Netflix docuseries, America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys. This eight-part saga dives deep into the life of the team’s charismatic and polarizing owner, Jerry Jones, chronicling the rise of the Cowboys’ legendary 1990s dynasty that clinched three Super Bowl titles. But in a stunning revelation, Jones has dropped a bombshell about a critical piece of Cowboys history that Netflix left on the cutting room floor—a decision he calls “the most trying time” of his career.
In a candid interview with Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer, Jones expressed his shock and disappointment that the series omits one of the most pivotal and dramatic moments of his tenure: the quarterback controversy between Troy Aikman and Steve Walsh. “It was the most trying time of all, and I was surprised they missed that,” Jones admitted, reflecting on the intense decision that shaped the Cowboys’ future.
In 1989, Jones made a bold move by selecting UCLA’s Troy Aikman as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, signaling his intent to build a championship-caliber team. But just months later, he doubled down with a surprising choice, drafting Miami’s Steve Walsh in the supplemental draft. The decision sparked a fierce quarterback battle that had the locker room buzzing and put Jones under immense pressure. “The tension I felt from Aikman was real,” Jones recalled, hinting at the behind-the-scenes drama that could have derailed the Cowboys’ dynasty before it even began.
Looking back, the competition between Aikman and Walsh seems like a foregone conclusion. Aikman went on to become a Cowboys legend, starting 165 regular-season games with a 94-71 record, throwing for 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns. His postseason heroics were even more impressive, boasting an 11-4 record and three Super Bowl rings, cementing his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Walsh, meanwhile, showed flashes of brilliance when called upon but could never overtake Aikman as the starter. In 1990, the Cowboys traded Walsh to the New Orleans Saints, and he embarked on a journeyman career, starting 38 games across multiple teams with a 20-18 record, 7,875 yards, and 40 touchdown passes. While Walsh carved out a respectable career, he never reached the heights of Aikman’s stardom.
Yet, in 1989, the outcome was far from certain. The quarterback duel was a high-stakes gamble for Jones, who was navigating his early years as the Cowboys’ owner. The tension, the uncertainty, and the bold decisions made during that period would have made for riveting television—leaving fans wondering why Netflix chose to sideline such a compelling storyline.
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys promises to take viewers inside the audacious vision of Jerry Jones, whose unrelenting drive transformed the Cowboys into a global phenomenon. From blockbuster trades to coaching changes, the series will explore how Jones built a powerhouse that dominated the NFL in the 1990s. But without the Aikman-Walsh saga, fans may be left with an incomplete picture of the risks and rivalries that defined the Cowboys’ journey to glory.
As anticipation builds for the docuseries’ premiere, Jones’ revelation adds an extra layer of intrigue. Why did Netflix omit this crucial chapter of Cowboys history? Was it an oversight, or a deliberate choice to focus on the triumphs rather than the tensions? One thing is certain: Jerry Jones’ willingness to speak out ensures that this untold story won’t stay in the shadows for long.