Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been taking a lot of shots these days from current NFL stars about how he runs his team, the latest coming from Derrick Henry.
The Baltimore Ravens running back is the latest player who put the Cowboys owner on blast, calling back to his free agency last offseason.
Derrick Henry Jokes That Jerry Jones Blocked His Number
Henry previously said when he left the Tennessee Titans that he was interested in joining the Cowboys. After all, he has a home in Dallas that he purchased back in 2022.
However, Jones and the Cowboys never reached out to the star running back despite his interest in joining the organization.
While appearing on Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons’ podcast, Henry joked about the fact that Jones never contacted him or returned his calls.
“Jerry Jones has my number blocked!” Henry joked. “I couldn’t even call Jerry! Jerry’s got my number blocked.”
Parsons was asked if he is upset that Henry didn’t end up in Dallas. Interestingly, Parsons said he’s actually glad that Henry didn’t sign with the Cowboys.
“I’m actually happy that you had the year [you did]. … I was telling somebody last night, it was like, ‘Are you upset that Derrick Henry didn’t come to Dallas?'” Parsons said.
“I said, ‘No, that’s not how God works. He was exactly where he was supposed to be. Year 8/9 of his career, still going for 1,800 yards, playoffs. He was exactly where he was supposed to be. I’m happy that he didn’t get ruined by us!'”
Derrick Henry jokes that Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones 'has my number blocked' 😅
Henry previously confirmed that Dallas never reached out to him during free agency.
(via The Edge with Micah Parsons) pic.twitter.com/K2DZRVKFjQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
Jones recently said that having Henry on the team wouldn’t have made much of a difference in 2024, and he seemed to agree with Parsons that Henry may not have had such a dominant season if he was in Dallas.
“In my mind, we’re not playing very good football right now at all, and that’s beyond whether or not we have Derrick Henry,” Jones said in October 2024.
“Derrick is having a career year. I don’t know if he’d be having that career year in our situation, and that’s really something you do have to look at. Because if he had not had as many carries as our running backs have had, then he certainly probably wouldn’t have attained the level of impact he’s had.”
Parsons has been in the headlines lately because he said that if the Cowboys don’t show him the money, he will chase a ring by joining a contender like the Kansas City Chiefs.
“In the next four or five years, once I hit 30, and I’m not where I need to be, if that ring isn’t right here fitted …” Parsons said before he made the hand motion familiar to every Chiefs fan, the tomahawk chop when he was at the Super Bowl.
@hbtCHIEFS did you see this? pic.twitter.com/3W7gRFaBY5
— Brandon Yano (@BrandonYano)
Jones has to be kicking himself for not going after the Pro Bowler in free agency when he had the chance, especially after seeing what signing Saquon Barkley did for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys’ rushing attack struggled mightily in 2024, ranking dead last in the NFL in rushing touchdowns per game (0.4) and rushing touchdown percentage (18.18%). The Cowboys also ranked 30th in rush yards per attempt (4.0) and 27th in rushing yards per game (100.3).
Rather than signing a marquee back like Henry, they started Rico Dowdle, while mixing in Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook, and Deuce Vaughn.
Eventually, Dowdle became the lead back, and he finished the season with 235 carries for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 39 passes for 249 receiving yards and three touchdowns. While Dowdle exceeded expectations once he took over the backfield, he’s now a free agent, so it remains to be seen what Dallas will do this offseason.
It will be interesting to see if Jones learns from his mistake this offseason. Many draft analysts (including PFSN’s Jacob Infante in his latest seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft) have Dallas selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 12 overall pick in the first round.
Here’s what Infante wrote about Jeanty potentially landing in Dallas: “The Cowboys’ run game was quite ineffective in 2024, and ownership certainly has a love for big-name talent. It seems like the perfect marriage to see America’s Team end up with the top running back in college football.
“Ashton Jeanty put up video game numbers for Boise State this year. He’s an intelligent runner with the agility, contact balance, ball-carrier vision, and value on passing downs needed to project as a high-impact starter in the backfield.”
Henry may not have led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, but his presence may have at least gotten them to the playoffs; then who knows? Anything could have happened.
