Interested ex-NFL coach turned down Cowboys because Jerry Jones couldn’t pony up the money

Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer hyped the Dallas Cowboys before the 2026 season. However, they are now facing backlash as the team endures another disappointing campaign.

The franchise’s defensive liabilities were a massive problem last season, and little has changed as the unit continues to hit rock bottom under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Their struggles peaked in Week 5, when Dallas fell to 2-3 after a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, handing Tampa Bay its first win of the year.

Amid this, former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan revealed that Jones had actively tried to hire him to fix the defense, but the two sides ultimately walked away due to a major contract disagreement over money.

Rex Ryan says Jerry Jones tried to hire him, but contract talks stalled

The roots of this failed partnership trace back to the 2024 offseason. Dallas officially interviewed the veteran coach for their open defensive coordinator position before ultimately hiring Mike Zimmer instead.Shortly after missing out on the role, Ryan didn’t hold back during an appearance on the DiPietro & Rothenberg show, boldly claiming he could have turned the franchise around. “I could’ve fixed [the Cowboys defense] in a New York minute,” Ryan insisted. “But, that being said, they couldn’t pony up the money, or I would’ve been there.”

Now, with Dallas plummeting under Christian Parker, the 63-year-old analyst is reflecting on how that contract standoff continues to haunt the front office. Speaking recently on Stephen A. Smith Sports, Ryan reminded fans that his return to the sidelines was incredibly close to becoming a reality.

“Jerry Jones actually tried to hire me, before, and it wasn’t this year or whatever,” Ryan explained. “It’s a couple of years ago we couldn’t really come to terms, and I think that’s the deal now.”

Money was not the only factor. Ryan wanted the job because he was “interested” in the roster. However, when contract talks stalled with Ryan, Dallas gave the job to Mike Zimmer, who had also interviewed for the position. However, Zimmer’s short time with the team disappointed fans, and he split with the Cowboys immediately after the 2024 campaign. That departure paved the way for a total defensive collapse that left Dallas dead last in the NFL in 2025. Today, the media criticizes Jerry Jones for refusing to spend money on top-tier coaches.

Meanwhile, Ryan remains famous as the last head coach to guide the New York Jets into the postseason successfully. The Jets chose to pass on their former leader during their 2025 coaching search, opting to hire Aaron Glenn instead. That move did not fix their long-standing issues, as the Jets finished a dismal 3-14 last season. This year, both the Jets and the Cowboys are again looking for answers after losing three of their first five games.