Jones, who would be a billionaire 10 times over if the same clause had been in place for Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson. Donahue was expecting more money, but also more responsibility, while the Cowboys were looking primarily for an offensive coordinator, who would also work as head coach.
The Cowboys felt secure with defensive coordinator Dave Campo and his staff, and if there was any coaching that really needed to be done, Jones could do that. Even Jones probably figured he was hiring a front man to eventually be bullied and propped before the public, while he dictated the good fortunes of the Cowboys. Gailey is an updated version of Dan Reeves.
Think about the guts it took for him to take a Division II coach that had never been a pro player or coached at that level and bring him in. Like Reeves, he is all business on the football field. Like Reeves, anyone making a mistake in practice runs penalty laps afterward. Like Reeves, players find him intimidating. He has an aura about him. One reason is he knows everything, which is a good thing for a head coach. But of course the Cowboys remain the Cowboys, and when Michael Irvin stabbed teammate Everett McIver with scissors, Dallas went into denial, everyone was ordered to shut up and maybe nothing had changed.
But Gailey stayed the course, sincere in his position that it was a team matter and it would be taken care of by the team, and when it was all over, Irvin remained on the roster and not in jail. Score one for Gailey. But who is this guy? He took a career gamble to become head coach of the Birmingham Fire in the World League for two years, found himself working at Samford University after that, and then bounced back to become offensive coordinator with the Steelers.
This is the guy who coached Kordell Stewart as a receiver, and then trained him as a professional quarterback. Coach Gailey built a strong corps of receivers in Pittsburgh, and he made a great quarterback out of Kordell. He had great athletes in Pittsburgh, and he made sure every player knew his role. When he had to, he simplified the offense to make it easier for us.
