Jerry Jones Teases Trade Talks, Likes Cowboys Being Discounted as NFL Title Contender

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he likes his team heading into the 2026 season as an underdog in the race for Super Bowl LXI.

"I think we've got a chance to be really good. It's gonna be hard," Jones said during Tuesday's press conference.

He continued, "You guys, for all practical purposes, don't expect us to be a contender in the Super Bowl. Y'all don't. Why would you? I like that. I do, I like that. And I like what we've put together to show you that we can do it."

Jones added he's spoken with other teams as recently as Monday about a potential trade for a player who could bolster the Cowboys in Week 1.

"Would I invest something substantive to get the right kind of deal to improve us opening day? I would. I feel that good about this team this year," Jones said.

The Cowboys are starting off training camp in Oxnard, California looking to bounce back from a 7-9-1 finish to Brian Schottenheimer's first season as head coach.

Jones said he's happy with the "mood" surrounding the Cowboys after an offseason that featured the addition of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, trading up to draft safety Caleb Downs and bringing George Pickens back on the franchise tag.

"I like the idea that the word is that we have had a quiet offseason... that hasn't been the case," Jones said. "We've had a lot going on."

Jones concluded, "All that's good. I like the mood. I like what we're coming to camp with."

It will be up to Dak Prescott to convey that mood to the team, according to Jones, who also said he liked the quarterback "thinking positive of what we're going to work for" by wearing a Super Bowl XXX shirt while arriving at training camp.

The Cowboys are practicing in Oxnard through Aug. 18 before returning to Frisco to finish out camp in Texas. The team's preseason slate begins Aug. 15 with a road exhibition game against the Seattle Seahawks.