🔗 Share this article Dallas Cowboys Owner Jones Fined $250,000 for ‘Accidental’ Obscene Gesture toward Fans The NFL has levied a hefty $250,000 fine on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for an action he describes as an “inadvertent” offensive hand signal directed at attendees during a recent contest at MetLife Stadium. Widely circulated footage seemed to capture Jones making an obscene gesture toward opposing supporters, but Jones maintains he was actually signaling approval to Cowboys fans present at the game as his team clinched a 37-22 victory. “It was unfortunate. That was kind of an exchange with Cowboys supporters seated near me,” Jones explained during a Tuesday interview. “There was a swarm of Cowboys fans—not Jets fans, Cowboys fans. The entire stadium was brimming with enthusiasm for the Dallas team.” He further emphasized that the gesture was completely unintentional, occurring amid the excitement following the team’s last score. “I simply showed the incorrect finger,” he remarked. “The action was accidentally done. I’m not kidding. Should you call it unplanned, you can. But it got corrected pretty quick.” League Context for Proprietor Penalties This is not the initial instance an league proprietor has been penalized for misconduct. Previous examples include: Carolina Panthers proprietor Tepper was fined $300,000 for tossing a beverage at spectators in early 2024. Then Titans proprietor Adams was issued a $250,000 fine in 2009 for a similar offensive signal. Jones, who is known for his media savvy, reportedly has an approximate net worth of around $16bn, making the penalty manageable for the billionaire proprietor. Recent Controversies and Media Attention The incident comes after a contentious offseason for Jones, who faced significant criticism from the Dallas supporters after the team dealt key pass rusher Parsons to the Packers. Additionally, Jones was a central figure in a streaming series that explored his role in building the Dallas franchise into the world’s highest-worth athletic organization, despite its modern-era title shortcomings. The NFL’s decision to fine Jones underscores its continuing effort to maintain professional conduct among all franchise representatives, regardless of their status or wealth.