Colin Cowherd is known for his hot takes, but this time he's crossing a line he usually respects: the line of journalistic neutrality. On his FS1 show, the outspoken host revealed that he'll be cheering against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday when they face the Indianapolis Colts.
It all stems from a fiery exchange earlier this week. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, appearing on 105.3 The Fan, was asked whether paying a head coach top dollar correlates with winning. Jones didn't mince words.
“In the NFL – this is after years of looking at all the teams and all the coaches – there is no, there is zero correlation between how much you pay a coach or how many coaches you have as to winning,” Jones said. “There is no correlation, and that’s a random sample of years and all 32 teams involved. So put that in your hopper and smoke it.”
Those comments struck a nerve with Cowherd, who has long argued that Jones is stingy when it comes to investing in his coaching staff. Now, he's hoping a loss to the lowly Colts will force the owner to reconsider his stance.
“I know as a journalist that it might not be appropriate, but I’m rooting for the fire sale Colts to beat the Cowboys soundly,” Cowherd said. “I am rooting for Brian Schottenheimer to – once again – prove that coaching matters. I love coaches, I respect coaches, but Jerry Jones does not. Sometimes a business owner has to bottom out. Losing to the fire sale Colts, I think then you can stop pretending coaching doesn’t matter.”
The Cowboys are sitting at 3-5, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer has posted a lackluster 10-14-1 record since taking the helm in 2025. For a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations, that's simply not good enough. And while the blame is spread across the roster, Schottenheimer is shouldering the responsibility.
“It’s not an effort issue. It’s an execution issue. That starts with me as the head coach,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m responsible for everything that happens here. Our execution has to be cleaner. We have to be able to put some of these close games away that we’ve unfortunately let slip away from us. And that comes down to execution.”
Cowherd's admission has sparked debate among fans, especially those who remember the stirring comments from Jerry Jones about coaching salaries. Some argue that Jones' frugality is a root cause of the team's struggles, while others point to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play.
Regardless, the Cowboys' matchup against the Colts has taken on added intrigue. A loss would not only hurt their playoff hopes but also give Cowherd the satisfaction of being right. And for a team that's already faced harsh criticism, including blunt assessments from former players, the pressure is mounting.
Will the Cowboys silence their critics with a much-needed win, or will they hand Cowherd the ammunition he craves? Sunday's game will provide the answer.
