Report: Jerry Jones elects to not appeal $250,000 fine for giving middle finger to fans

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has reportedly decided to not appeal his $250,000 fine for giving the middle finger to several fans during last Sunday’s 37-22 win over the host New York Jets, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Jones was seen flipping off several Jets fans that were gathered outside the visiting owner’s box at MetLife Stadium.

Pelissero added all the fine money will go to charitable causes. That is something Jones is “genuinely happy about.”

Jones made the self-described “unfortunate” hand gesture following the Cowboys’ final touchdown in the win over the Jets. The 82-year-old owner called it an accidental mistake and said he intended to give the fans a “thumbs up.”

“That was unfortunate,” Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “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.”

Jerry Jones on @1053thefan on giving the middle finger during Sunday’s game in New Jersey: “That was unfortunate. 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.” pic.twitter.com/3QS6ZkD4B1

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 7, 2025

Jones made it clear it was “accidental” and he did not intend to show a middle finger gesture toward the fans. He reiterated that he was trying to show excitement after a touchdown.

“[The gesture] was inadvertent on my part because that was right after we made our last touchdown, and we were all excited about it,” Jerry Jones said. “There wasn’t any antagonistic issue or anything like that. I just put up the wrong show on the hand. That was inadvertently done. I’m not kidding. If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental. 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 posted 416 total yards in the 37-22 victory over the Jets, led by quarterback Dak Prescott. He had another huge day leading the offense, completing 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns. That includes 114 yards for Ryan Flournoy, who stepped up in a big way as CeeDee Lamb works his way back from injury. It was also a huge day on the ground for Javonte Williams, who took 16 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown to spearhead the running game.

With the win, the Jones’ Cowboys improved to 2-2-1 on the year. Dallas will now get ready to take on the Carolina Panthers this week.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.