Jerry Jones credits this Cowboys legend for being a Hall of Famer

Two of the most-discussed NFL-related stories of the first month and a half of 2026 involved New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick failing to receive enough votes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones doesn't have to worry about being enshrined in Canton, as he was voted into the 2017 Hall of Fame class. During a recent chat with TMZ Sports, Jones placed a figurative spotlight on one player while speaking about his Hall of Fame status. 

Jerry Jones has his gold jacket because of this star player

"Let me say this," Jones explained. "What I'm for is for whatever Michael Irvin is for. I have a gold jacket. I wouldn't have the gold jacket had Michael Irvin not played for the Cowboys, in a manner of speaking." 

The Cowboys made Irvin the 11th overall pick of the 1988 NFL Draft, while Jones bought the franchise in 1989. Irvin ultimately became the greatest wide receiver in Cowboys history and helped the club win three Super Bowl titles during its dynastic run in the 1990s. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Irvin is second in franchise history with 11,904 career receiving yards, second with 750 career receptions and fourth with 65 career receiving touchdowns. His 1,603 receiving yards for the 1995 campaign were good for the Cowboys' single-season record until CeeDee Lamb ended the 2023 campaign with 1,749 receiving yards. Irvin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. 

Jerry Jones praises "the winning mentality" possessed by Michael Irvin

Jones suggested that Irvin's desire to win was just as important to the Cowboys as were the contributions Irvin made as one of the more dynamic playmakers of his era. 

"To be involved and be around the winning mentality or that winning physicality -- when Michael says it, I listen," Jones added during his comments. 

The Cowboys haven't played in an NFC Championship Game since they won the Super Bowl in January 1996, and they most recently ended this past season with a lackluster record of 7-9-1. It sounds like Jones wishes he had more guys like Irvin on the roster this winter.