Jerry Jones ‘middle finger’ video: Shocking moment costs Dallas Cowboys owner $250,000 in fine

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined after a viral video showed him flipping off a fan during Sunday’s game. He called it an accident, meant as a thumbs-up.

Updated on: Oct 8, 2025, 01:37:20 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been fined for an obscene gesture made during the Cowboys' Sunday game against the New York Jets. Jones, on Tuesday, admitted to showing the middle finger to a fan - a moment that was caught on video and went viral subsequently.

Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. (Getty Images via AFP)

Here's the viral video:

Jones called the incident "unfortunate," The Athletic reported. “There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out front. It was right after we made our last touchdown. I put up the wrong show of hand. The intention was thumbs up.”

The video of the moment was recorded by a fan on the stand who shared it on social media. It quickly went viral, sparking massive speculation on whether the NFL will take action against Jones, one of the high-profile NFL owners in the league.

On Tuesday, the buzz around it seemed to have worked as The Athletic reported, citing sources that Jones has been fined $250,000 for the obscene gesture. Jones' gesture, as well as his statement, was also published in the same report. Jones also made a series of other media appearances explaining the incident.

Jones' net worth in October 2025 is estimated at 19.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires' Index.

Jerry Jones Pleads Innocence Amid Backlash

Since the viral incident, Jerry Jones has made a series of media appearances explaining his side of things about the incident. He talked about it in detail in an appearance on the 105.3 The Fan, a Dallas-based Cowboys program and again claimed the incident was "inadvertent."

Also read: Did Jerry Jones petition NFL to remove Bad Bunny from Super Bowl Halftime Show? Here's the truth

Jones said that showing the middle finger was "inadvertent on my part because that was right after we made our last touchdown, and we were all excited about it. There wasn't any antagonistic issue or anything like that. I just put up the wrong show on the hand."

"I'm not kidding. If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental," he added. "But it got straightened around pretty quick. I had a chance to look at it. It got straightened out pretty quick, but the intention was 'thumbs up,' and basically pointing at our fans because everybody was jumping up and down excited."

The Cowboys are 2-2-1 after thrashing the Jets 22-37 in Week 5.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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