‘America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys’ — Everything to Know About the New Cowboys Doc
The ’90s Dallas Cowboys weren’t just a football team — they were a powerhouse. In Netflix’s America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, premiering Aug. 19, fans can relive the years that redefined the franchise and left an unforgettable mark on the NFL.
From locker room clashes to Super Bowl glory, the series goes inside an era when Dallas dominated on the field — and in the headlines. Featuring new interviews and rare archival footage, it’s a story chock-full of dramatic twists and wild turns en route to a place in football’s history books.
Maclain Way, who co-directed America’s Team along with his brother, Chapman Way, tells Tudum about the eight-episode series’ origin.
“This project started for us two years ago. Chap and I grew up in Thousand Oaks, a town that was the longtime training camp for the Dallas Cowboys. We knew America’s Team and Roger Staubach and Tom Landry. We dove in, and the things that started jumping out to us were the relationship between Jerry and Jimmy and these characters … Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Deion Sanders.”
Chapman adds, “For decades now, people have been wanting to tell the ’90s Cowboys dynasty’s story, and I think that it’s been difficult for one reason or another to get both Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson to sit down. I think this was the first time it was able to happen.”
Scroll on for everything else to know about America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.
When does Netflix’s Dallas Cowboys documentary premiere?
The series premiered on Aug. 19, exclusively on Netflix.
How many episodes are in America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys?
The series, directed by Chapman and Maclain Way (Untold, Wild Wild Country) and executive produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed, Jon Weinbach, Ross Ketover, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Keith Cossrow, Chapman and Maclain Way, John Skipper with co-executive producers Adam Goldberg and Dan Marks, is eight episodes.
Who appears in America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys?
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys features interviews with:
- Jerry Jones
- Jimmy Johnson
- Barry Switzer
- Troy Aikman
- Emmitt Smith
- Michael Irvin
- Deion Sanders
- George W. Bush
- Phil Knight
Keep reading for a refresher on the Dallas Cowboys’ most pivotal years.
Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.
Before the highest highs came the lowest lows
In February 1989, Arkansas oilman Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys for $140 million — a daring move by Jones, given that he had a vision that didn’t quite mesh with reality. At the time, the team was in free-fall — coming off a 3–13 season in 1988 and far removed from their 1970s dominance, when they made five Super Bowl appearances and won two.
On day one, he made it clear he’d be doing things his way — firing beloved coach Tom Landry and naming his former college teammate, Jimmy Johnson, as head coach. He also made himself general manager (a role he still holds today) and vowed to return Dallas to glory.
Maclain says, “With Jerry, I just got the sense that he had a transformative experience in college. That was probably the best moment of his life, when he won that National Championship. That was a huge singular motivating factor for why he purchased the Dallas Cowboys because he wanted to experience that emotion again.”
Their first season was a complete disaster
Jones and Johnson’s first season as owner and coach couldn’t have been worse: a 1–15 record, injuries to rookie quarterback Troy Aikman, and the controversial trade of Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. That trade, as painful as it was at the time, would change the franchise’s future.
The “Triplets” were born
In 1988, the Cowboys had already drafted wide receiver Michael Irvin, a standout inheritance for Jones and Johnson. In 1989, they drafted Aikman. And in 1990, they added Florida running back Emmitt Smith to the team. Together, they became “The Triplets,” an offensive trifecta that would lead the Cowboys through their successful run.
Emmitt Smith holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The dividends began: Three Super Bowls in four years
The Cowboys won three Super Bowl titles in four years between 1992 and 1996. They weren’t just a team. They were a cultural phenomenon. Amplified by Deion Sanders, who made remarkable plays on the field as well as bringing a unique swagger to the locker room, the Cowboys became an undeniable (and often unbeatable) force.
All great things must come to an end
With fame came ego — a tale as old as time. Behind the scenes, the relationships that fueled their rise (especially between Jones and Johnson) began to fracture. Tensions boiled over until Jones forced out Johnson in early 1994, despite the coach having delivered back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Essential personnel parted ways with the franchise, stars found themselves at the center of unflattering headlines, and the top dogs lost their footing in an ever-evolving league. Johnson’s replacement, Barry Switzer, coached the Cowboys to a third title in the 1995 season. But it was clear: The Cowboys had lost their grip on greatness.
The story of the ’90s Cowboys isn’t just about the wins and the losses, failures or successes — it’s about how ambition, ego, loyalty, and legacy collided to shape one of the most unforgettable runs in NFL history.
Chapman tells Tudum, “[Jones and Johnson] had a 30-year conflict, but there’s a profound brotherhood between these two men. They went through so much together, accomplished so much, had a big falling out, but are still able to find ways to respect each other despite their disagreements. It was important for us to capture the intimacy behind the scenes that you don’t really get to see as a fan.”
Executive producers in addition to the Way brothers include David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jason T. Reed, Jon Weinbach, Ross Ketover, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Keith Cossrow, and John Skipper. Co-Executive Producers are Adam Goldberg and Dan Marks.
The story of the ’90s Cowboys isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about how ambition, ego, loyalty, and legacy collided to shape one of the most unforgettable chapters in NFL history.
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is streaming on Netflix now.
Want more America’s Team? Listen to the latest episode of the Netflix Sports Club podcast:
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