Ed "Too Tall" Jones: The Unspoken Cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys' Glory Days
When reminiscing about the storied history of the Dallas Cowboys, few names resonate as deeply as Ed "Too Tall" Jones. As a dominant force on the defensive end, Jones played an instrumental role in the Cowboys' Super Bowl XII victory and remains a figure of immense respect in the NFL community. With 106 sacks accumulated over a distinguished 15-year career, he also held the honor of being an All-Pro defensive end—achievements that only scratch the surface of his impact on the game.
"Too Tall" Jones's understanding of what it takes to triumph in the high-stakes arena of professional football offers invaluable insights into the nuances of achieving postseason success. Emphasizing the importance of veteran leadership, Jones pointed out, "If you look at these teams now that make the playoffs, like Buffalo, Baltimore, all those teams, they don't have anybody on those teams that won a Super Bowl in that locker room. To be a champion, you've got to be able to get to another level."
That "other level" Jones speaks of is the X-factor that separates good teams from great ones. His belief in the necessity of experienced players who have been through the trials of Super Bowl runs is grounded in his own experiences and observations. "What separates good players and good teams is teams who have players who can go to another level in big games," he explains. "Every general manager in the league should be out trying to pick up a guy that gets cut or something that's been to a Super Bowl and put him in that locker room. It makes a big difference."
Reflecting on the modern Cowboys, whose last Super Bowl appearance dates back to January 1996, Jones critiques their lack of internal leadership. "Who will they follow? Dallas don't have it. Several teams don’t have it. That’s just one of the things. They’re missing a few horses in key positions, too, but oftentimes, when you have the right leadership and the right chemistry, you make up for it," he notes.
Jones's wisdom isn't merely theoretical but drawn from concrete experiences during his playing days. He recalls facing off against veteran-laden Pittsburgh Steelers teams in '75 and '78, narrowly losing both encounters: "That Pittsburgh team had nothing but veterans on both sides of the ball. Nothing but veterans. We were a very young team both times when they beat us in '75 and when they beat us in '78, even though we only lost by four points both games and [Roger] Staubach had the ball driving [late] in those games. I was proud of the way we hung in there against a veteran team because experience in big games is very important. Very important."
The importance of seasoned leadership came to the forefront once more in the 1990s, under coach Jimmy Johnson's tenure, when the Cowboys made a pivotal trade for another future Hall of Famer, Charles Haley. Haley, who had already clinched two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, brought that much-needed championship pedigree to Dallas. His arrival preceded the Cowboys' first of three Super Bowl titles over a four-year span, underscoring Jones’s assertion that experience plays a critical role in postseason success.
In addition to his contributions on the field, Jones's voice extends into his advocacy for health and wellbeing in his post-playing career. Partnering with Sportcane, a newly designed walking aid, Jones credits the device for significantly improving his quality of life. "I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for the Sportcane as far as being able to get around and still not letting anything hinder what I do in life," he shares, reflecting a sense of gratitude and the same determination that marked his playing days.
Jones's reflections encapsulate the perennial challenges and solutions facing NFL teams today. His emphasis on veteran leadership, internal chemistry, and experience as crucial elements to a team's success offers a timeless blueprint not only for the Cowboys but for any team aspiring to reach and thrive in the Super Bowl spotlight.