Jerry Jones Says Cowboys ‘Could and Would’ Hire Troy Aikman

On the day after Jerry Jones had an on-field conversation with Troy Aikman prior to the Monday Night Football game in Philadelphia, the Cowboys owner said during a radio interview it’s “very possible” he could hire the ESPN broadcaster for a role with the franchise.

“And the answer is … not that necessarily we’re going to do something more direct with the team at this time,” Jones told Dallas station 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday. “But don’t rule it out. It’s very possible.”

Jones and Aikman spoke on the field at Lincoln Financial Field, reportedly for about 10 minutes, prior to the Cowboys’ win Monday night over the Eagles.

That came after Jones, responding to a question by Front Office Sports, said last Wednesday at the conclusion of an NFL owners meeting in New York that he was following Aikman’s situation with ESPN. Jones added then that Aikman, a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who played for Jones with the Cowboys, would be capable of filling a front office role for an NFL team.

Aikman told Mike Fisher of Cowboys Roundtable later last week that he would consider any offer for a role with the Cowboys if Jones were to be interested.

Jones was asked during Tuesday’s radio appearance whether he’d hire Aikman, 59, for such a role with the Cowboys.

“Yeah,” Jones said. “Yes, I could and would. And so it’s that simple because I do think that much of him, with his basic command and understanding and knowledge of NFL football. And so he certainly is qualified to do any of the things that have been mentioned. And I think he’s outstanding at what he focuses on right now, and that’s giving the story, the narration of the football games of all teams.”

Aikman has no formal and ongoing agreement with the Dolphins, FOS reported recently, after he served as a consultant to that team last offseason for Miami’s general manager and head coach searches. Aikman’s role with the Dolphins led the NFL to tell FOS before the season that he would be subject to the same team-access restrictions this season that apply to Tom Brady, based on Brady’s dual role as a broadcaster for Fox and a part-owner of the Raiders.

Aikman’s contract with ESPN expires following the network’s Super Bowl broadcast. There has been widespread reporting and rampant speculation about Aikman’s professional future, in or out of broadcasting, since FOS reported there was tension between him and Joe Buck, his partner in the Monday Night Football booth, and that the two had argued before a recent broadcast of a Rams-Bills game.

“So let me make it real clear,” Jones said Tuesday. “Troy Aikman is, first of all, just getting started in his life. I don’t know of anyone that’s played or any part of football that has had any more success off the field than Troy. He is a successful guy because he is one of the hardest-working, most focused people that I’ve ever been around. Now, when you’re around each other, a part of that makeup can make it where you can have your ups and downs. But I think the world of him. I’ve seen his image and had it in my eyes since I walked in the NFL. So he’s outstanding.”