Like for many NBA players, Shaquille O’Neal‘s first love was football. And because his family settled down in San Antonio after living in Germany, O’Neal became a fan of the NFL team that most San Antonians are affiliated with — the Dallas Cowboys.
So Shaq grew up idolizing legends like Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders. However, during his recent appearance on the “Tommy Talks” podcast, he admitted that none of those Hall of Famers was his favorite Cowboys player.
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“Growing up, I used to make myself feel good,” said Shaq. “I used to tell people that ‘Too Tall’ Jones is my father. That was my motivation. So I’ve always been a Cowboys fan.”
“Too Tall” Jones played basketball before football
Ed Jones went to Tennessee State on a basketball scholarship, but after two years, he transitioned to football. However, because he was 6’9″, his teammates told him he was too tall to play the gridiron sport, hence the nickname. Despite being new to the sport, he earned two All-American selections as a defensive lineman and helped TSU win the national championships in 1971 and 1973.
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Jones was the Cowboys’ No.1 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft and played 15 seasons in the league. Although he won Super Bowl XII with Dallas, the Cowboys did not reach the peak of their success until the early 90s, when they won three Super Bowls during a four-year span.
However, since winning Super Bowl XXX in 1995, the Cowboys have been in a drought. Because of the many heartbreaks their fans have experienced since then, some have abandoned their fandom for “America’s Team.” But not Shaq.
“I’m not a fair weather fan. Like whoever I’m with, I’m with you till the wheels fall off. So I’ll always be a Cowboys fan, no matter what,” he added.
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Bayless skips Cowboys, prefers Clark
Last season, the Cowboys missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. And after winning the NFC East twice in the previous three years, they finished a mere third with a paltry 7-10 record. Even before this downfall started, lifelong diehard Cowboys fan Skip Bayless declared that he’d rather watch the WNBA and Caitlin Clark.
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“I’m seeing Caitlin Clark emerge as an extraordinary professional basketball player—highest risk, highest reward. I’m actually okay with those record-shattering turnovers. I’m actually okay with the logo threes that so often miss. I’m so okay with Caitlin Clark now that I must tell you I look more forward to watching the Indiana Fever more than I do my Dallas Cowboys,” the veteran broadcaster said.
So far, the Cowboys are 1-1 in the 2025 season. After beating the New York Giants 40-37 in their season opener, they dropped a 20-24 game to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. With Dallas still struggling, it’s unclear where Bayless stands right now. However, Shaq will always be there for his beloved football franchise.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.