What's the succession plan for Jerry Jones' Cowboys, Robert Kraft's Patriots and NFL commish Roger Goodell?

[FortressX]

A somewhat long article, but we have nothing to do for many days

“[Jones and Kroenke] have gotten a lot of credit for creating the ‘everything’ destination where the football facilities or the stadium becomes just a small part of a bigger fan experience, but where do you think that idea came from?” the executive noted. “Robert Kraft did it first — on the top of an old stadium and one little four-lane highway.”

25 in 2025: What's the succession plan for Jerry Jones' Cowboys, Robert Kraft's Patriots and NFL commish Roger Goodell?

Jerry Jones gave a stark reminder that when you look at the wide angle of the NFL over the next decade, change is likely coming to at least two of three very powerful seats

sports.yahoo.com

 

[DC Patriots]

Outsiders view of Kraft as a model owner and innovator.

I’m sure this will produce furious, spittle flecked rants here.

 

[Clonamery]

Outsiders view of Kraft as a model owner and innovator.

I’m sure this will produce furious, spittle flecked rants here.

For many fans there is good and there is not so good.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Stephen Jones gave absolutely the right answer (re: succession) and i'm sure Jonathan would do the same. Assuming power when you don't have it is in poor taste. Succession plans can be a touchy subject for families.

We also don't know how committed they are to the business. Some families sell once the owner has passed. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

I believe Stephen and Jonathan are very, very smart and are prepared to at least run their respective teams competently. That does not mean they will always make the right decisions on coaches and GMs.

 

[DC Patriots]

Stephen Jones gave absolutely the right answer (re: succession) and i'm sure Jonathan would do the same. Assuming power when you don't have it is in poor taste. Succession plans can be a touchy subject for families.

We also don't know how committed they are to the business. Some families sell once the owner has passed. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

I believe is Stephen and Jonathan are very, very smart and are prepared to at least run their respective teams competently. That does not mean they will always make the right decisions on coaches and GMs.

Agree. I wasn’t aware before reading the article that Jones had a stage 4 malignant melanoma. I’d like to think in that situation my kids would remember there are some things bigger than football too

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agree. I wasn’t aware before reading the article that Jones had a stage 4 malignant melanoma. I’d like to think in that situation my kids would remember there are some things bigger than football too

When I learned that I thought of his speech in, "Landman" at Monty's bedside. He was very good in that scene.

 

[DC Patriots]

He was great in Landman. Knowing he had a probably terminal cancer adds a layer to the performance

 

[signbabybrady]

Outsiders view of Kraft as a model owner and innovator.

I’m sure this will produce furious, spittle flecked rants here.

 

[lancerman]

Stephen Jones gave absolutely the right answer (re: succession) and i'm sure Jonathan would do the same. Assuming power when you don't have it is in poor taste. Succession plans can be a touchy subject for families.

We also don't know how committed they are to the business. Some families sell once the owner has passed. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

I believe is Stephen and Jonathan are very, very smart and are prepared to at least run their respective teams competently. That does not mean they will always make the right decisions on coaches and GMs.

Look at how messed up the Bowlen situation got. Didn't have a plan in place, two kids went to war over it, a trust took advantage of it. NFL had to step in and force a sale

 

[Zoomnbyu]

A somewhat long article, but we have nothing to do for many days

25 in 2025: What's the succession plan for Jerry Jones' Cowboys, Robert Kraft's Patriots and NFL commish Roger Goodell?

Jerry Jones gave a stark reminder that when you look at the wide angle of the NFL over the next decade, change is likely coming to at least two of three very powerful seats

sports.yahoo.com

 

[RobertWeathers]

Look at how messed up the Bowlen situation got. Didn't have a plan in place, two kids went to war over it, a trust took advantage of it. NFL had to step in and force a sale

God what a disaster that was. Bowlen not being of sound mind and body didn't help. Careless.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

He was great in Landman. Knowing he had a probably terminal cancer adds a layer to the performance

Here's the scene...

 

[signbabybrady]

Look at how messed up the Bowlen situation got. Didn't have a plan in place, two kids went to war over it, a trust took advantage of it. NFL had to step in and force a sale

It looks like the Jones' and Kraft's have plans in place. They each have one of their sons second in command. And I'd assume detailed wills.

That doesn't necessarily preclude war from going down. From what I recall the Bowlen stuff came down to some of the heirs wanting to liquify their shares and the others didn't have enough or want to buy them out.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Just don't be like the Lakers when Buss died. Those were some brutal years with Jim Buss. I heard rumors he didn't attend the games and would go watch at a bar down the street.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It looks like the Jones' and Kraft's have plans in place. They each have one of their sons second in command. And I'd assume detailed wills.

That doesn't necessarily preclude war from going down. From what I recall the Bowlen stuff came down to some of the heirs wanting to liquify their shares and the others didn't have enough or want to buy them out.

Which could absolutely happen here. Though I think most of the Kraft sons are employed by the Patriots, such as in the charity foundation, etc. So hopefully it's in their interests to keep the team in the family.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Here's the scene...

Background: I guess Taylor Sheridan and Stephen Jones are buddies. Through Stephen, he asked Jerry if he'd be open to doing a scene talking about life, etc. Jerry ( a big Yellowstone fan) was receptive and invited him to his box at a Cowboys game. Taylor explained the scene he had in mind and Jerry jumped at the chance. Jerry outlined what he thought might resonate and Taylor was blown away.

 

[lancerman]

It looks like the Jones' and Kraft's have plans in place. They each have one of their sons second in command. And I'd assume detailed wills.

That doesn't necessarily preclude war from going down. From what I recall the Bowlen stuff came down to some of the heirs wanting to liquify their shares and the others didn't have enough or want to buy them out.

Bowlen had 7 kids from 2 different marriages. He left ownership stakes to all of them but only one by NFL by laws could be the owner who ran the team and had actual control and a say. The heir who would assume that role was supposed to go through some qualifications that were preset (getting a degree, getting some years clocked in working for the team, getting management experience). A trust was supposed to oversee all of this and run the team until they could hand it over to whoever would be running it.

2 daughters from separate marriages emerged wanting to be the primary owner. One was older and had most of the qualifications. One was much younger and was going to take years to get the credentials. The trust favored the daughter from Bowlen's most recent marriage because they knew the wife and because they knew a lot of them would still have jobs. So they basically took the older daughter and fired her and played keep away defense to avoid her from fulfilling everything she needed while the younger 20 something daughter would get it. Eventually lawsuits were filed, Pat's brother got involved, the rest of kids made it clear they were never going to approve anyone by consensus. A lot of people were getting pissed that an NFL team was indefinitely in the hands of a trust that had no ownership stake and they were dragging things a long for the sake of power.

The NFL got sick of the mess and basically told them they had to sell. Which worked for most of the children as they weren't running the team and benefitted more from a payout.

 

[signbabybrady]

Bowlen had 7 kids from 2 different marriages. He left ownership stakes to all of them but only one by NFL by laws could be the owner who ran the team and had actual control and a say. The heir who would assume that role was supposed to go through some qualifications that were preset (getting a degree, getting some years clocked in working for the team, getting management experience). A trust was supposed to oversee all of this and run the team until they could hand it over to whoever would be running it.

2 daughters from separate marriages emerged wanting to be the primary owner. One was older and had most of the qualifications. One was much younger and was going to take years to get the credentials. The trust favored the daughter from Bowlen's most recent marriage because they knew the wife and because they knew a lot of them would still have jobs. So they basically took the older daughter and fired her and played keep away defense to avoid her from fulfilling everything she needed while the younger 20 something daughter would get it. Eventually lawsuits were filed, Pat's brother got involved, the rest of kids made it clear they were never going to approve anyone by consensus. A lot of people were getting pissed that an NFL team was indefinitely in the hands of a trust that had no ownership stake and they were dragging things a long for the sake of power.

The NFL got sick of the mess and basically told them they had to sell. Which worked for most of the children as they weren't running the team and benefitted more from a payout.

Wild. I don't think the Krafts are going through that lol. If they have problems it probably would be an equally wild tale though. Hopefully everything is as it appears and all would be copacetic. And hopefully many years from now.