After a crushing 44-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones faced an unusual controversy: sunlight disrupting play at AT&T Stadium. This game was the Cowboys’ first without their star quarterback, Dak Prescott, who is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
In his place, backup quarterback Cooper Rush struggled to find rhythm, with the Cowboys managing only six points the entire game. A potential touchdown pass to Ceedee Lamb was missed in the second quarter, with replays revealing an unexpected culprit: sunlight glaring into the wide receiver’s eyes.
The incident sparked questions about the large glass panes at the east end of AT&T Stadium, notorious for allowing sunlight to flood the field. This design flaw has impacted multiple plays over the years, with players often losing sight of the ball under the blinding light. When asked about the issue after the game, Jones didn’t hold back. “We know where the sun is going to be when we decide to flip the coin or not. We do know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium,” he said, defending the stadium’s design.
Jones didn’t stop there. When asked why the stadium staff doesn’t consistently cover the glass during games as they do for concerts and other events, Jones responded sharply: “Well, let’s tear the damn stadium down and build another one? Are you kidding me? Every team that comes in here has the same issues. I’m saying, the world knows where the sun is. You get to know that almost a year in advance. Someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where’s the moon?”
Beyond sunlight concerns, Jones also offered unexpected support for head coach Mike McCarthy, despite the Cowboys’ difficult season. When asked about McCarthy’s job security following the disappointing performance, Jones defended his coach, noting his reluctance to repeat past mistakes. “I’ve fired coaches in-season before, and I’ve regretted it every time,” Jones stated.
The only time Jones let go of a coach mid-season was in 2010, when he fired Wade Phillips after a poor start and promoted Jason Garrett, who would lead the Cowboys for the next nine years. Whether this stance on stability will be enough to turn the Cowboys’ season around remains to be seen, but Jones appears steadfast in his decisions on both his stadium and his coaching staff.
