The Dallas Cowboys have spent months searching for answers after another disappointing season. Frustration around the franchise keeps spilling into public view. The Cowboys missed the playoffs for the first time under HC  Brian Schottenheimer. The criticism of Jerry Jones has only intensified.

An old stadium controversy is back in focus. The backlash surrounding Jones stretches far beyond another brutal Sunday loss.

Jerry Jones’ Stadium Stance Draws Renewed Heat

Jones is facing renewed criticism over the persistent sunlight problem inside AT&T Stadium after multiple former players, coaches, and league figures revisited the issue throughout the 2025 season. ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler detailed the long-running concern in a feature, while NBC News revisited Jones’ fiery comments following Dallas’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier that month.

The frustration reached a new level after wide receiver CeeDee Lamb blamed the glare for a missed touchdown opportunity during Dallas’ 34-6 defeat.

“Terrible: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was warned about the stadium’s blinding sun issue, but insisted he wanted an indoor stadium with an outdoor aesthetic. Nothing short of utter incompetence ”

Jones has repeatedly rejected suggestions to install curtains or coverings inside the stadium’s west-facing glass panels. AT&T Stadium was intentionally designed with an outdoor feel despite being a retractable-roof venue. The building remains one of only two NFL stadiums aligned southwest-to-northeast, creating direct sunlight issues during late-afternoon games in the fall.

The debate resurfaced again this week after former Dallas receiver Terrell Owens criticized Jones and the organization over lingering frustrations from his 2009 release. Owens told Action Network he no longer cares about repairing the relationship. The Hall of Famer played three seasons in Dallas after signing a three-year, $25 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus in 2006.

Jones also faces questions about whether the franchise’s structure has become too insulated. A recent Sporting News report noted that Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman never seriously expected a front-office opportunity due to the heavy presence of the Jones family throughout the organization.

None of these controversies exists in isolation anymore. Every issue surrounding the Cowboys now gets tied back to ownership decisions. Whether it is roster construction, stadium design, or former stars speaking out, criticism keeps circling back to  Jones.

The Cowboys remain one of the NFL’s biggest television draws, guaranteeing more late-afternoon home games in Arlington next season. That means the sunlight issue would not go away anytime soon. After another losing year, neither are the questions surrounding Jones and the franchise’s direction.