It has nothing to do with the future of Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. It’s all about Jones’ acting chops.
Jones had a surprise cameo on the popular TV series ‘Landman,’ which follows a cast of characters chasing an oil boom in West Texas. The 82-year-old, who made his first million in the oil industry, earned praise for his appearance across from distinguished actors Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton.
Here’s what to know about Jones’ cameo and why it impressed ‘Landman’ and NFL fans alike.
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Jerry Jones’ ‘Landman’ cameo
Jones’ ‘Landman’ cameo occurred in the ninth episode of the Paramount+ drama’s first season, which was released on Jan. 5, 2025. The Cowboys owner visited Hamm’s character, Monty Miller, in the hospital after Miller suffers a heart attack.
Jones delivered a speech that outlined to Miller and Tommy Norris (Thornton’s character) how important family is in one’s life. It detailed the joy he experienced working alongside his kids with the franchise.
‘Now I’m not saying I’ve done anything right, but I made my mind up a long time ago I was gonna work with my kids,’ Jones said in the scene. ‘And they’re involved in everything. They’re involved in my leasing, oil and gas, real estate.
‘And so, when I got the Cowboys, I got it so that we could all work together. I thought I was doing it for them, but the one that got the most out of it was me.’
The scene required Jones to get emotional, and he was successful in doing so. He appeared to have tears in his eyes by the end of his brief appearance and delivered an impactful line that seemed to land with Hamm and Thornton’s characters.
‘I’m pretty proud of them Cowboys, I’m pretty proud of the stuff we’ve done in oil and gas,’ Jones said. ‘It pales in comparison to how proud I am to have lived my life working with my kids.’
Jones earned plenty of praise for his appearance, with many noting the authenticity of his monologue. Some even believed that Jones’ dialogue was unscripted, and that he was speaking from the heart.
Jerry Jones’ acting career
‘Landman’ was not Jones’ first cameo appearance during his career. Below is a full list of the programs on which he has appeared as himself:
Coach (1996)
Arli$$ (1996-2000)
Entourage (2010)
Cubed (2011)
The League (2012)
Landman (2025)
How did Jerry Jones make his money?
Jones made his first $1 million as a wildcatter in the oil industry during the 1970s, according to Forbes. He has continued to invest in drilling opportunities, owns several residential real estate projects in Dallas and became the controlling shareholder in Comstock Resources, an oil and gas company in Texas, in 2018.
Jones’ most valuable asset is the Cowboys, which he purchased for $150 million in 1989. Forbes now values the team at roughly $10 billion.
Jerry Jones’ net worth
Jones has a net worth of $16.7 billion as of Jan. 7, 2025, per Forbes. That makes him the 123rd-richest person in the world.