The NFL has fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones $250,000 for making an obscene gesture towards fans during his team's 37-22 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. Viral clips appeared to show Jones flashing his middle finger at Jets supporters at MetLife Stadium.
Jones claimed the gesture was inadvertent, insisting he intended to give a thumbs up to Cowboys fans in the crowd. Speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, he said: 'I just put up the wrong show on the hand. That was inadvertently done.' He added that there was 'no antagonistic issue' and that he was simply excited after a touchdown.
The fine is consistent with recent NFL penalties for owner misconduct. In January 2024, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 for tossing a drink at fans, while former Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 in 2009 for a similar obscene gesture.
Jones, whose net worth is estimated at around $16 billion, has had a busy offseason. He was criticised by Cowboys fans after trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and featured in a Netflix documentary about building the franchise into the world's most valuable sports team.
