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Troy Aikman Publicly Taunts Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Nov 4, 2025 11:23 AM ET

Troy Aikman didn't show any favoritism toward Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys while working their latest shortcoming.

The Cowboys icon called his former team's 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on ESPN's "Monday Night Football." Their defense's struggles continued against second-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who amassed 261 yards and two touchdowns in the road victory.

During the broadcast, Aikman and Joe Buck discussed Jones' tease of a trade earlier that day. The Cowboys' owner and general manager claimed they already made a deal that had yet to be announced and hinted at other possible moves to follow before Tuesday afternoon's trade deadline.

Dallas was trailing 24-10 in the third quarter when the longtime announcing duo broke down Jones' comments. Aikman jokingly advised Jones to reconsider any deadline additions.

"He may want to cancel that trade," Aikman said, via Awful Announcing. "I don't think one player, from what I've seen tonight, is going to make a difference for this group."

Buck called the defense "beyond bad" before Aikman noted that Trey Hendrickson, one of the biggest defensive stars who could be traded, hasn't been able to save an awful Cincinnati Bengals' unit.

Aikman spoke more on Cowboys' deadline plans

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 09: ESPN football broadcaster Troy Aikman visits the sidelines before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Aikman also discussed Jones' mysterious move on ESPN's pre-game show. He laughed at his former boss's showmanship while opining that no player is going to fix a defense allowing an NFC-worst 397.4 yards per game after Monday's loss.

"No, I don't believe so," Aikman said when Jason Kelce asked if any one acquisition could make them competitive. "Do I think Micah Parsons would have made a difference? Absolutely. Would that change their record that much? I don't know. He is a difference-maker, but those guys aren't typically available. So, I don't know that they can bring in somebody like him.

"I don't know what that move is, I don't know who that might be. I think it's interesting that you announce there's a trade, but you're not going to announce who it is."

Cowboys reveal trade on Tuesday

It appears Jones didn't take Aikman's advice to cancel the trade. The Cowboys announced their first move on Tuesday morning, and it likely won't compel Aikman to change his tune.

Dallas sent a seventh-round pick to Cincinnati for linebacker Logan Wilson. While the 29-year-old offers some much-needed depth, it's hard to see him fixing the Cowboys after losing playing time on the league's only defense ranked below the Cowboys through nine weeks.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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