Cowboys great Emmitt Smith questions team's direction under Jerry Jones amid Brian Schottenheimer's promotion

Smith, who spent the majority of his Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys, suggested he would take a patient approach to Schottenheimer's coaching tenure in Dallas.

Smith followed up those comments by warning that the Cowboys' 2025 campaign could be disappointing, given his belief that the franchise's issues go beyond whoever is wearing the head coaching headset on the sideline.

"Just a conversation about the team, and about where he is, and his boys, conversation with his boys, that type of conversation," Jones said. "I've said I've talked to a lot of coaches, and Deion has a job."

Smith said passing over Sanders left him feeling disappointed. "It is kind of disappointing that, from an opportunity standpoint, he wasn't considered high enough to do it," he said. "But like I said, some things have to play themselves out."

Michael Irvin, who won three Super Bowls during his storied career with the Cowboys, has also expressed his displeasure with Jones deciding not to move forward with Sanders as the team's coach.