Jerry Jones' Secret Battle: Cowboys Owner Reveals Cancer Diagnosis!
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has revealed a decade-long battle with Stage 4 cancer. Jones credited an experimental trial drug for successfully treating advanced melanoma. He disclosed his cancer diagnosis publicly for the first time in a documentary series, “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” debuting on Netflix next week.
The 82-year-old Jones told The Dallas Morning News that he was initially diagnosed in June 2010 and underwent two surgeries on his lung and two on his lymph nodes over the past 10 years after skin cancer cells metastasized to other parts of his body.
"Well, you don’t like to think about your mortality, but I was so fortunate to have some great people that sent me in the right direction,” Jones said. “I got to be part of a trial that was propitious. It really worked. It’s called PD-1 (therapy), and it really, really, really worked.”
First-year Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer described Jones’ fight with cancer as an “amazing story” and praised him for going public. “I’m glad that Jerry shared it, just because I think it gives people hope,” Schottenheimer said. “It gives people the strength to say … ‘Hey, you can beat this.’”
Schottenheimer's Own Cancer Battle
Interestingly, Brian Schottenheimer also revealed his own cancer diagnosis. He shared that he battled and overcame thyroid cancer when he was 28. He appreciates Jones for bringing attention to the devastating topic and giving those who are battling their own cancer currently hope.
"I'm glad that Jerry shared it, just because I think it gives people hope. It gives people the strength to say 'Hey, you can beat this, you can do that.' When you have that type of diagnosis, to have that hope and that ability to think, 'Hey, I can fight through this and maybe I can catch a break and get lucky,' I think that's great." Schottenheimer said.
Schottenheimer learned of his diagnosis in 2002 while working with his father Marty with the Los Angeles Chargers. He received the news before the season began and recalls the traumatic experience of sharing the news with his father.
He received help from former Washington owner Dan Snyder, who had also been diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few years prior. This story highlights the shared struggles and support within the NFL community in the face of serious health challenges.