“They have burned up benefit of doubt”: NFL analyst serves blunt reality check to Jerry Jones-led Cowboys after playoff exit

The Dallas Cowboys are not going to the Super Bowl for a 30th consecutive year after the NFC East franchise failed to make the playoffs this season, extending their historic drought under owner Jerry Jones.

While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed his disappointment over Dallas' failed 2025 season, his words have not filled fans with encouragement ahead of the offseason.

NFL analyst RJ Ochoa gave a blunt assessment of the Cowboys' season, questioning whether Jones would make changes in the offseason to gain the trust back of Dallas fans. He captioned his X post:

"Is there one single and most importantly *realistic* thing that the Cowboys could do in the offseason to earn even a semblance of your trust back? I don't think there is (being honest) at this point. They have really burned up all benefit of the doubt."

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Ochoa wondered what the Cowboys could do in the offseason to change the trajectory of the franchise. In a lengthy video on his X post, he said:

"What would have to happen? What is the thing if there is a lever that the Cowboys could pull in the offseason to get you back in, to get you to believe, to get you to buy a ticket, to get you to buy a jersey, to get you to do the thing that you swore off from doing, because they have ruined all of this for all of us. What is that thing? What is that lever? Is it changing the defensive coordinator? I don't think it is. I don't think that's enough at this point. I don't think there is a one move. I don't think there is a reverse card that they can play. There isn't a singular point of activity. They're at a place where they have to build up a lot of equity.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones takes accountability for Dallas' failure this season

The Cowboys last played in the NFC Championship Game in 1995, the same season they won their last Super Bowl. Dallas' drought looks worse when taking into account that every NFC team has made it to the NFC Championship Game since 2010, apart from the Cowboys.

Veteran Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took accountability for the team's failure during his tenure.

“I’ll admit that the Cowboys management has played a big role (in the 30-year Super Bowl drought),” Jones said. “But seriously, I’m very disappointed that the way we’re structured and my role puts us here tonight. I’m tremendously disappointed.”

The Cowboys have two games remaining this season against the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants.

Edited by Chaitanya Prakash