Earlier this week, ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” which tells the story of Jerry Jones’ tenure as owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jones revealed that he has been battling advanced melanoma since 2010.
He recently shared how he’s coming to terms with the fact that his cancer is terminal, and that an experimental trial drug has played a key role in his fight.
Jerry Jones Opens Up About His Long Fight With Cancer
Regardless of how people feel about Jones as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, it is difficult to hear that he has been fighting cancer for 15 years. Now 82 years old, Jones appeared on “Fox and Friends” to discuss his diagnosis and share how his battle has unfolded.
He explained that at first, he did not realize his advanced melanoma was terminal. Surrounded by great doctors, he was given an experimental drug as part of his treatment, which played a key role in helping him fight the disease.
“I didn’t recognize it was terminal.” @dallascowboys owner Jerry Jones opens up about his cancer diagnosis and the experimental drug that left him tumor-free. pic.twitter.com/6wclYcBm60
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) August 21, 2025
“I just really didn’t even recognize that it was terminal, and I listened to some good advice, I had some great doctors really all over this country,” Jones said. “In doing so, I tried something very experimental,”
Experimental drugs are never guaranteed to work, but when they do, they can make a major difference. Jones revealed that the drug his doctors used, called PD-1, has eliminated all of his tumors.
“We got involved in a drug called PD-1, and it was experimental. It was very, very effective,” Jones said. “I had several tumors at that time. They’re all gone now, and it’s 15 years later.”
The National Cancer Institute explains that PD-1 is a protein on immune cells called T-cells. Usually, when PD-1 connects with another protein called PD-L1, it tells the T-cells to back off, even if the target is a cancer cell.
The drug Jones received blocks that connection, which frees up his T-cells to go after and destroy the cancer, which is why it’s been so effective in his treatment.
Jones’ treatment has been largely successful, and he’s now tumor-free. 2025 marks his 36th season as owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and although many disagree with his management style, it is clear that even while battling cancer, his focus remained on his team.
Jones has been in the spotlight for a number of controversies this offseason, particularly regarding what many see as damaging his star pass rusher Micah Parsons’ relationship with the team. However, his fight against cancer is something the entire football world can rally behind.
