NFL Slaps Jerry Jones with $250K Fine — Because That Finger Was Doing Too Much

NFL Slaps Jerry Jones with $250K Fine — Because That Finger Was Doing Too Much

In what’s probably the most awkward “oops” moment in recent NFL ownership history, the league fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a cool $250,000 for flashing what appeared to be a middle finger salute toward fans at MetLife Stadium. Yes, you read that right. The head honcho got dinged for giving the F-you finger.

Cameras caught him pointing into the crowd and—boom—finger pop. Naturally, social media had a field day. But Jones insists it was purely a botched thumbs-up, not a gesture of wrath. In his defense (via his own radio show), he claimed he was just riding the momentum after Dak Prescott’s fourth TD pass in their win over the Jets. He said, “I just put up the wrong show on the hand.”

He also added there was no beef with fans — "That was unfortunate. That was kind of an exchange with our fans out in front of us," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out in front -- not Jets fans, Cowboys fans. The entire stadium was brimming with enthusiasm of Cowboys and certainly late in the game." — and the wrong gesture was purely inadvertent. He’s planning to appeal the fine, because apparently even billionaires get to plead “my bad.”

For context, this isn’t totally new. Back in 2023, Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 for tossing a drink at Jaguars fans. And back in 2009, the Titans owner took a similar $250,000 hit for waving middle fingers at Bills fans. The NFL apparently has a “no rude handseye” policy.

So next time you see Jerry in the stands, maybe he’ll stick to clapping. Fingers crossed (now that’s a gesture he can’t be fined for).