Michael Irvin drops bombshell on Jimmy Johnson's real personality in new Cowboys Netflix series
The Dallas Cowboys are stepping into the streaming spotlight with a gripping new Netflix docuseries that dives deep into one of the NFL's most chaotic and legendary eras. Titled America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, this eight-episode series is set to premiere on August 19, bringing to life the raw, intense, and often controversial journey of Jerry Jones and his creation of a football dynasty in the 1990s.
America's Team or Jerry's Gamble? Netflix unpacks Cowboys' glory and chaos of the 90s dynasty
Directed by the Emmy-winning duo Maclain and Chapman Way—known for their work on Untold and Wild Wild Country—the series promises far more than just game highlights. Produced by Skydance Sports in collaboration with NFL Films and Stardust Frames Productions, it peels back the curtain on what transformed the Cowboys from a struggling franchise to the most valuable sports team on the planet.
Netflix's official synopsis sets the tone perfectly: 'A man who bet it all.
A series of calculated risks. A team meticulously designed for greatness.' And that man, of course, is Jerry Jones. After buying the Cowboys in 1989, Jones, alongside head coach Jimmy Johnson, took the team from a dismal 1-15 start to back-to-back Super Bowl titles within five years. It was a transformation fueled by bold business decisions, fearless leadership, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.
The series stands apart thanks to its powerful storytelling and the A-list lineup of interviews. Among those sharing their experiences are Jones himself, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, and
Michael Irvin
.
Even high-profile personalities like George W. Bush, Phil Knight, and Rupert Murdoch contribute to the narrative, highlighting how the Cowboys' rise intersected with American culture, media, and business.
Michael Irvin doesn't hold back in the trailer, offering a chilling truth about life under Johnson's rule: 'The road to a championship is never paved smoothly. It's always paved with peaks and valleys… He made practice hell.
So the game is heaven.' It's more than a soundbite—it's a window into the grueling process that forged champions out of chaos.
One of the trailer's most unforgettable moments features Johnson barking at a player: 'Asthma my a–. Get over there on that other field and have asthma.' These aren't dramatizations—they're real, raw flashbacks to a time when the Cowboys weren't just a football team, but a phenomenon.
Johnson's approach, as brutal as it was, built more than athletes.
As Irvin emotionally shared in a previous podcast, Johnson shaped men 'from a lot of broken areas,' turning pain into purpose and dysfunction into dominance. Under Johnson's final four seasons, Dallas posted a staggering 50-22 record—cementing their dynasty status.
In an age where team-specific documentaries are gaining popularity, this one promises to stand out. With its intimate access, unfiltered interviews, and emotional depth, America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is set to deliver more than nostalgia—it's a front-row seat to football's most dramatic rise.
As Jerry Jones says with a sly grin in the trailer, 'There's a soap opera 365 days a year… We do it our way, baby.' And come August 19, Netflix viewers will get to witness exactly how that legacy was built.
Also Read:
Is the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift relationship just a PR stunt for headlines? NFL star responds to rumors
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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