On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for stating that the team's defense is "trending in the right direction." Smith expressed concern over Jones' assessment, suggesting it may be overly optimistic given the unit's performance.
The comments came during a recent episode of "First Take," where Smith responded to Jones' remarks made earlier in the week. Jones had pointed to recent improvements and young talent as reasons for optimism.
Smith countered that the defense still has significant gaps and that such claims could create false expectations. The Cowboys' defense has struggled with consistency this season, ranking in the lower half of the league in several key metrics.
