Jerry Jones is known for his unwavering optimism, often seeing the glass as half full even when others see glaring problems—literally, in this case. Where some, including members of his own team, see an obvious issue with a simple solution, Jones sees an opportunity.
Just two days after praising the massive westward-facing window at AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys owner doubled down on Tuesday, insisting that the blinding sunlight it creates is actually a home-field advantage. Jones made his comments during his weekly radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan, defending the design of his $1.3 billion stadium.
“Every venue has certain things that at certain ways and times in the contest can create an advantage,” Jones explained. “That really goes on the category of home-field advantage… I don’t want to adjust it for one reason—because it is an advantage for us.”
Jones’ comments came in the aftermath of a disheartening 34-6 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, a defeat that pushed an already troubled season further into decline. During the game, the setting sun became a point of discussion, as it likely cost the Cowboys a scoring opportunity. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was wide open for what could have been an easy touchdown, but he lost sight of the ball while looking directly into the sun and was unable to make the catch.
While a touchdown wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the 28-point blowout, the missed opportunity symbolized the Cowboys’ ongoing struggles this season. After the game, Lamb was asked whether the stadium would benefit from curtains to block the blinding late-day sun.
“Yes, 1,000%,” Lamb responded without hesitation, emphasizing the frustration felt by players forced to deal with this avoidable issue.
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Despite the growing discontent, Jones stood firm in his stance during his postgame media scrum. “We know where the sun’s going to be when we decide to flip the coin or not,” he said. “So we do know where the damn sun’s going to be in our own stadium.” He spoke as if this knowledge provided an advantage only for the Cowboys, conveniently ignoring the fact that opposing teams are just as aware of the sun’s location.
Now, a new theory has emerged regarding why AT&T Stadium was designed in a way that leaves it vulnerable to the harsh Texas sun. According to a social media user, there was one significant reason why Jones might not have had a choice. The post claims, “This is actually a senior living community, and it was the only private property in the surrounding 140 acres that wasn’t bulldozed over when AT&T Stadium was built.”
The user added, “In my opinion, it’s the reason Jerry’s World had to be built at this awkward east-west angle. When you look at old satellite images of the building site, you realize that this group of buildings is the only area that wasn’t demolished in 2008 to make room for the stadium.”
This theory, if true, could explain why the otherwise state-of-the-art stadium has this seemingly inexplicable design flaw.
Despite the backlash, Jones shows no interest in reopening the debate about the sun’s impact on games at AT&T Stadium.
He’s equally uninterested in hearing what he considers to be excuses from his players about why they can’t make plays.
To Jones, the sunlight is a manageable factor, and overcoming such challenges is part of what he believes should make the Cowboys stronger.
Unfortunately, for a team that’s been stumbling through a disappointing season, the sun’s glare at AT&T Stadium ranks pretty low on the list of pressing concerns.
But Jones’ insistence on viewing the glaring sunlight as a positive advantage speaks volumes about his approach to managing the team—one that often refuses to acknowledge problems even when they’re blindingly obvious.
As the Cowboys struggle to salvage what’s left of their season, it’s clear that Jones is willing to embrace any potential edge, even one that seems to be more of a hindrance than a help.
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