Cowboys legend Dez Bryant criticizes franchise: ‘They need to get out of their comfort zone’
Despite being one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most recognizable faces of the last decade, former wide receiver Dez Bryant hasn’t shied away from criticizing the team he once played for from 2010-17.
Speaking on Media Row for Super Bowl LIX last week, he continued to question the organization following the hire of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, a move he described as safe and comfortable. He said he would’ve gone with another hire, such as former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders or Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
“I would’ve gone Ben Johnson, I like him,” Bryant said. “I would’ve even gone Prime (Deion Sanders). But with Jerry [Jones], there’s no way they would’ve gone after somebody like Prime, too big of a personality. But Ben Johnson, if anything. Kliff, I would’ve given him anything he wanted.”
“It feels like everybody is in a comfort zone, and that’s not what we need. We got the biggest franchise in sports, and we’re acting like we’re this poverty franchise for whatever reason.”
While Jones insisted on the red carpet last Thursday night that the Cowboys are “not building for the future” and are trying to win in the now, Bryant thinks they are in the midst of turning their roster over.
“I think they’re rebuilding, and it sucks,” he said. “It sucks for guys like Micah, CeeDee. That’s just my opinion...I don’t like the energy, I don’t like what’s going on in the Cowboys organization. We want to win. I’m speaking on behalf of the fans, what’s going on?”
Bryant acknowledged that the team hasn’t traditionally spent money in free agency, and the same outlook remains for the 2025 offseason after Jones’ comments on Thursday in New Orleans. Bryant sees too many holes on the roster to continue that same line of thinking.
“We need guys, we need help,” he said. “We need another playmaker alongside CeeDee. We need a running back, a couple of running backs. More o-line, we need d-line. I don’t know what’s going on.”
In a perfect world, Bryant said his changes with the Cowboys would include philosophy off the field in hopes that it could translate between the lines.
“It’s a mentality thing if you ask me,” Bryant said. “They need to get out of their comfort zone. They need someone who is going to get in there and challenge them to be the best.”
It’s been five years since Bryant retired from the NFL which will make him eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame beginning in 2026. While it will be an uphill battle to get in with his resume, Bryant will pray that he gets to put on a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio one day.
“I hope, I pray,” he said. “I laid it all out on the line. It’s been a dream of mine. I didn’t know that. That’s pretty cool. If it comes, it comes. I’d be excited. It is what it is.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM.
