Jerry Jones is undoubtedly one of the most influential franchise owners in NFL history. And a big chunk of that success came during the '90s. And Jones was quick to share the credit when it came to their Super Bowl success.

Jones spoke candidly to TMZ Sports during the Fanatics party during Super Bowl Week.  "I have a gold jacket. I wouldn't have the gold jacket had Michael Irvin not played for the Cowboys, in a manner of speaking.”

Michael Irvin was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in 1988, one year before Jones bought the franchise. Later, when Jones brought in Jimmy Johnson, Irvin's college coach, he created a duo that brought the team three Super Bowl wins. That was largely due to the early work Irvin and Johnson put into the team's rebuild, identifying players to keep.

To this day, Jones listens to Irvin’s advice even as the Cowboys chase winning the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years. 

"To be involved and be around the winning mentality or that winning physicality, when Michael says it, I listen,” Jones said. And when Irvin has his moments, Jones doesn't mind it.

Irvin recently went viral for this eccentric celebration where he whipped a water can covered in Ohio State colors with a belt after his team, the Miami Hurricanes, won. 

When Jones was asked if the famous “belt to a**” celebration should be brought to the Cowboys, Jones replied, “Irvin earned the right to do whatever the heck he wants.”

Jones’ and Irvin’s relationship goes way beyond the football field

They spoke to Netflix’s NFL Christmas Coverage last year, where Irvin said about Jones, “This is my man. Jerry is a brilliant man. We appreciate him and love him to death.”

Jerry too expressed his emotion towards Irvin, saying, “Michael and I have had a wonderful life together. You could make a Christmas story out of it. What makes it so special is that we’ve had some times when we cried on each other’s shoulders. Literally cried. I promise you we’ve had some of the biggest hugs and laughs known to man.”

The mutual admiration is clear, and the current Cowboys could use that passion in their own Super Bowl pursuit.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar