On a bus is where he first fixated his eyes on the NFL, and on a bus is where the NFL fixated its eyes on him. It was in the 1960s, when Jerry Jones—still serving as a guard and the co-captain of a national championship team at the University of Arkansas—vividly remembers sitting on a bus next to future Vikings running back Jim Lindsey, and reading a magazine story about then Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell. Unlike other boys his age, there was a different question that popped up in the young man’s mind…

“It was talking about how Art Modell had decided to buy the Cleveland Browns, and I remember reading that and we were riding along talking and I thought, ‘What would it be like to be doing that with your life?'” Around 25 years later, he found out. Buying the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Stadium for a staggering $140 million, Jones not only launched what would be an iconic ownership legacy seeped in monologues on Super Bowl dreams, and vintage one-liners, but also a highly awaited NFL Combine tradition that involved…

…Of course, a bus.

For three and a half decades, Jones has made the Combine as much about himself as the prospects on the field. His team bus in Indianapolis? More like a rolling stage for headlines where a few select reporters are usually invited every year aboard the vehicle for an informal sitdown. However, the man drawing the most attention inside the multi-million dollar vehicle at Lucas Oil Stadium will be amiss this year. But why?

Well, as per The Dallas Morning News‘ David Moore, “Jones was tentatively scheduled to meet with the media Friday afternoon after his arrival at the combine. But a club spokesperson said the Cowboys owner had a conflict with other commitments and meetings that had been scheduled. He won’t hold his customary session on the Cowboys bus, but is expected to be available to address the team’s offseason approach next week.” Was it a strategic retreat or a sign of deeper chaos in Big D? We’re not sure yet. But, Jones will still be available—just on a different occasion.

According to NFL insider, Clarence Hill Jr, “Jones will talk to reporters next Wednesday during the Zack Martin retirement press conference.” To anyone still doubtful about whether Jones is intentionally skipping the talks, Mike Florio further confirmed it, saying, “He isn’t one to hide from media attention. He usually embraces it, under the belief that all publicity is good publicity.” Yet, we cannot ignore the patterns that have emerged, especially after the Cowboys’ rocky 7-10 season…

Interestingly, Jones’ absence isn’t isolated. The 82-year-old skipped December’s league meeting and January’s Senior Bowl—a first in 35 years as well. Stephen Jones, his son, handled media duties instead. Meanwhile, sources confirmed talks with agents for free agents like Osa Odighizuwa and DeMarcus Lawrence. For a GM often criticized for treating football like a fantasy league, this focus felt… unusual. Is America’s Team finally getting serious?

Amid Dallas’ worst “flagfest” in 25 years, and growing unrest over the Super Bowl drought, being the most valuable sports franchise in the world means nothing when the fans have no glory to sing about for a whole generation.

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Meanwhile, Dallas sent mixed signals on Dak Prescott’s backup.

Jones’ quarterback carousel spins silently

ESPN’s Todd Archer reported the Cowboys used zero formal combine interviews on QBs, focusing instead on linebackers and corners. But Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart—a rising SEC star—told reporters, “It’s been great sitting down with them talking ball and kind of just start to build that relationship,” Dart, who threw 29 touchdowns in 2024, met Dallas for “preliminary discussions.” The disconnect?

Classic Cowboys. Publicly downplaying needs while privately eyeing talent. Meanwhile, the Cowboys face another major question. Cooper Rush or Trey Lance?

Both are free agents, and Dallas must choose: consistency or potential.

• Rush: A 4-4 record in 2024, known for steady hands but limited flair.
• Lance: A scrambler with raw talent but shaky accuracy.

New OC Klayton Adams, who coached Kyler Murray, could unlock Lance’s mobility. But Rush’s reliability might appeal to a team craving stability. Besides, Jones’ combine silence and Dart’s quiet meeting hint at a franchise in flux. Is Jerry trading his cowboy hat for a hard hat, focusing on a rebuild over rhetoric?

With Prescott returning from injury and a revamped coaching staff , Dallas faces a make-or-break year. The draft looms large, and fans wonder: Will Ashton Jeanty or a sleeper QB pick fuel the fire? Or will Jerry’s bus stay parked, leaving America’s Team stuck in neutral? But the one important question that lingers…

Can a quieter Jerry Jones finally shout ‘How ‘bout them Cowboys!’ in February 2026?