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Cowboys' Jerry Reacts To Irvin's Brutal Deion Criticism

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Fisher | Last updated Jan 29, 2025 11:48 AM ET

FRISCO - Michael Irvin is both supportive of his beloved Dallas Cowboys, and, at this moment, critical of his beloved Dallas Cowboys.

And the Hall of Fame "Playmaker'' is continuing his assault on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' head coach hiring decision.

Irvin cannot understand the Cowboys naming Brian Schottenheimer as the team's new head coach.

A short list of names were genuinely linked to the Cowboys opening after it was decided that Dallas and Mike McCarthy would "part ways.

One of the four men interviewed was Schottenheimer, the out-of-contract but incumbent Cowboys offensive coordinator.

One of the four men not interviewed was Colorado's Deion Sanders, the iconic former Cowboys superstar and Irvin pal.

And even as the news is settling in ... Cowboys legend Michael Irvin still cannot wrap his head around it.

“We lost an opportunity here,” Irvin said of "his Cowboys.'' “I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next coach. And I still stand 10 toes down on that push.”

Irvin has rebooted his protest, now saying, “I’m not giving up my fight. You’re gonna ride by here again in another year or two if this thing don’t work out again, and my song will still be singing like a young Diana Ross: Deion! All the way.''

We've heard Michael try to sing, and it ain't exactly Motown. But we get his point.

.@michaelirvin88 responds to Jerry Jones:

"I'm not giving up my fight. You're gonna ride here again in another year or 2 if this thing don't work out again, and my song will still be singing like a young Diana Ross, DEION!" pic.twitter.com/Mb6d0E4h0v
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) January 28, 2025

Jerry's response to Michael's push is a sly one.

"I think the world of Michael Irvin, and we both enjoy a lot of heavy criticism,'' Jones said with a nod to Irvin's own sometimes-controversial moments in the spotlight.

"Sanders' name was a popular one for some Cowboys fans - and for Irvin, Troy Aikman, Nick Saban and other respected names who pushed for the idea. But as first reported by CowboysCountry.com, the Monday, January 13 phone call between Jones and Sanders was not an interview; it was, as we said at the time, "99 percent'' about Deion cleverly using the Cowboys brand as he was/is seeking a sweeter deal from Colorado.

Irvin, part of three Super Bowl-winning Dallas teams in the '90's, is also irate about the Cowboys vs. the competition.

"We have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship game .... All eyes on them," Irvin said. "The Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, our enemies on all fronts. And they're in a position that we haven't held in 30 (bleeping) years! ...

"That's 30 damn years. Forty years is a generation. It was time to bring somebody in here that could shake things up and grab this last leg of Cowboys Nation. A third of Cowboys Nation has never felt or lived the glory of a championship story!''

Irvin, who we know met with Jerry early in the process to endorse his friend "Coach Prime.'' knows all about the real conversations here, but still - as he's ripping Jones and Schottenheimer - is troubled by the decision to pass on "Coach Prime.''

Said Irvin: "I don't know what will happen with coach Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry's a shrewd, shrewd businessman, and this (Deion) opportunity, I'm shocked he did not see."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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