Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Reveals Successful Battle Against Advanced Melanoma with Experimental Drug PD-1 Therapy

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones attributed his successful recovery from advanced melanoma to an experimental trial drug, sharing his cancer diagnosis publicly for the first time in a forthcoming Netflix documentary series.

At 82 years old, Jones disclosed that he was initially diagnosed with skin cancer in June 2010 and underwent surgeries on his lung and lymph nodes over the subsequent decade as cancer cells spread to other parts of his body. In a practice session on Wednesday, Jones explained, “I am incredibly fortunate to have been guided towards a trial that proved beneficial. It’s called PD-1 (therapy), and it truly made a significant difference.”

First-year Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer admired Jones’ tenacity in battling cancer, describing his story as inspiring. During his last press conference before the team returned to Texas, Schottenheimer also discussed his own experience with cancer, having undergone surgery for thyroid cancer at Mayo Clinic in 2003.

The connection between Schottenheimer and then-Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder came to light when Snyder assisted in arranging Schottenheimer’s treatment following the dismissal of his father, Marty Schottenheimer, as coach in 2000. Brian Schottenheimer had served as Washington’s quarterbacks coach during the same year Snyder himself battled thyroid cancer.

Schottenheimer underscored that cancer does not discriminate, noting, “Regardless of the stage or severity, hearing the word ‘cancer’ can be terrifying.”