SALEM, OR - Netflix drops trailer for this eight-part saga illuminating the rise and risks behind America's Team. The road to greatness was never smooth-just like the trailer cautions, "The road to a championship is never paved smoothly… It's always paved with peaks and valleys."
The story behind the story
Set to premiere August 19, 2025, America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys revisits the Cowboys' rise under owner Jerry Jones in the 1990s, the era when Texas truly became "football country." The series features exclusive interviews with Jones, Hall-of-Famers Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith, plus key figures like Jimmy Johnson and Deion Sanders.
What the trailer teases
The trailer offers a compelling glimpse into the heart of the Dallas Cowboys' rise and the chaos that came with it. "This is a soap opera 365 days a year," one voice declares, capturing the nonstop swirl of drama that surrounds the team. The cultural magnitude of the franchise is underscored early when a narrator explains, "The hole in Texas Stadium is so God could watch his favorite team… the Cowboys."
Jerry Jones doesn't shy away from the stakes, admitting, "When I bought the team, I was Darth Vader. Dallas fans aren't happy." The emotional weight of that moment comes through in a candid exchange with his son: "I said, 'Dad, I don't know anything about running a football team.' And he looked me in the eye, and he said, 'Neither do I.'"
From there, the story accelerates. "We were gambling my family's whole fortune, so I had to take risks," Jones says. "And it started with Jimmy Johnson." Johnson's intensity forged the team's edge: "He made practice hell so the game is heaven… We were ready. Showtime."
But with success came turbulence. The trailer doesn't flinch at the darker chapters: "With that success, you also get disruption. Police officers came to me and pulled a gun. 'Open the door right now!'"
And through it all, the spotlight never faded. "Playing for the Cowboys is different," one voice says. "It's the most valuable sports franchise in the world." The trailer closes on a line that's become legend: "The only thing else I got to say is, 'How 'bout them Cowboys?'" followed by a defiant flourish-"We do it our way, baby."
Why it matters
This isn't just a nostalgia trip. The show offers a nuanced look at how familial ambition, flashy leadership, and high-stakes decisions built a dynasty. But it also confronts the turmoil beneath the glory: distractions, controversies, and the perilous gamble of legacy.
With eight episodes helmed by Emmy-winning directors Chapman and Maclain Way (Wild Wild Country, Untold), this docuseries promises cinematic depth and insider insight.
Final Take
For fans of the Cowboys-or of compelling sports drama-America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys looks like an essential watch. It dives into the swagger, the strategy, and the scandals behind how Jerry Jones turned a struggling franchise into a cultural powerhouse.
