Michael Wilbon Blasts ESPN’s Obsession With Jerry Jones and the Cowboys
In a surprising but refreshingly candid moment, longtime ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon called out his own network for its over-the-top coverage of Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. Speaking during a recent episode of Pardon the Interruption, Wilbon didn’t hold back his frustration with the way ESPN devotes so much airtime to a team he feels has become irrelevant where it matters most — the postseason.
The Cowboys, once a dominant force in the NFL, haven’t reached the NFC Championship Game since 1996. Despite this drought, they remain a central figure in football discussions, with quarterback Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones frequently dominating headlines. ESPN, in particular, has faced criticism from fans and analysts alike for its nonstop Cowboys content — and now, even its own talent is pushing back.
“There’s nothing Jerry Jones says that I pay any attention to. Nothing,” Wilbon said bluntly. “Because the point of trying to decipher what he says and assign meaning to it is a damn waste of time, and I don’t have that much. Jerry Jones likes to hear himself talk. He likes to talk. He likes to stand in a room with reporters and talk. I’m sure if there’s nobody in the room, he’d stand there and talk.”
That tirade didn’t stop there. Wilbon made it clear that the Cowboys’ relevance doesn’t extend into the postseason anymore — and yet the team is still treated as if it’s the center of the NFL universe.
“The Cowboys, they’re not in the big action late. They’re not relevant in January,” he continued. “So he could be hurting his team while he’s doing it. Again, I don’t care about that because I don’t care about the Cowboys, even though I know most of the programming on this network is devoted to Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.”
It’s a rare move to see someone so embedded within the ESPN structure speak out so directly against the network’s content priorities. Wilbon, however, has built a reputation for saying what others might avoid. As one of the co-hosts of Pardon the Interruption, he has decades of credibility and isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers — even those within his own company.
The Cowboys, coming off a disappointing 7–10 season, are under the microscope yet again heading into 2025. With a new head coach and major roster changes, including the arrival of wide receiver George Pickens, expectations are once again sky-high. But for Wilbon, all the noise about Dallas distracts from teams actually making playoff noise.
The irony, of course, is that Wilbon’s comments only add more fuel to the very machine he’s criticizing. Fans, analysts, and social media were quick to share and debate his rant — a testament to just how tightly the Cowboys have gripped the sports media world, whether deserving or not.
Still, Wilbon’s larger point resonates: At what point does coverage become obsession? And is the constant spotlight on a team that hasn’t delivered in decades actually good for the sport — or is it just about ratings?
As the new season looms and the Cowboys gear up for yet another “prove it” year, Wilbon’s words will no doubt linger in the background. Whether fans agree with him or not, one thing is clear: even criticizing the coverage of the Cowboys is Cowboys coverage. And for now, that cycle doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.
