Hollywood titan and lifelong Cowboys fan Denzel Washington did not hold back during his appearance on ESPN’s First Take, where he and Spike Lee were promoting their new film Highest 2 Lowest. Turning the spotlight away from the silver screen, Washington delivered a pointed critique of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, driven by both frustration and love for the team.
“I’ve been a Cowboys fan since the ’60s,” he began, before delivering the hard truth: “He’s making it hard for me. Not to be a fan ... but he ain’t thinking about us. He’s thinking about his pocket.” He stressed that his loyalty hasn’t wavered “I love the Cowboys. Because I really love them” but his patience with the franchise’s direction is wearing thin.
He didn’t stop there. With trademark intensity, Washington drew a parallel between Hollywood accolades and football glory: “There’s box office and there’s Oscars, Jerry. Been a while, huh? Ain’t been to the show, you wouldn’t know what it is to win.” And in a zinger that echoed from the screen to the gridiron, he delivered the closing line: “All money ain’t good money, Jerry.”
These remarks come amid a heated contract standoff with star pass rusher Micah Parsons who has reportedly requested a trade after extension talks stalled and amid growing frustration over the Cowboys’ postseason failures. The team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season, and missed the playoffs entirely in 2024.
Do you agree with Denzel’s take? Should Jerry Jones focus less on revenue and more on building a championship roster or is running a profitable franchise just as important as winning?