Ashton Jeanty has always had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but even he couldn’t have predicted his bizarre and unforgettable reunion with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The Boise State star running back—now a high-profile NFL Draft prospect—recently shared the wild story during an appearance on a podcast that has since gone viral for all the right reasons. Equal parts awkward, hilarious, and oddly heartwarming, Jeanty’s recounting of his unexpected run-in with the iconic Cowboys owner proves that truth really is stranger than fiction.
It all started at the NFL Combine, where Jeanty was scheduled to meet with several NFL teams, including the Cowboys. He had already impressed scouts with his explosive lateral quickness and elite-level production over the last two seasons. What he didn’t expect was that the strangest part of the week wouldn’t come on the field or in a meeting room—but at a ritzy Indianapolis steakhouse where fate decided to have a little fun.
“I was just trying to eat,” Jeanty said with a laugh. “Just me and my agent, low-key dinner, nothing fancy. I’m looking at the menu trying to figure out if I want the ribeye or the filet, and all of a sudden I hear someone behind me say, ‘Well hell, look who it is.’”
At first, Jeanty thought maybe a fellow player had recognized him. He turned around expecting to see a college teammate or someone he’d trained with during the offseason. Instead, he was staring into the unmistakable face of Jerry Jones—decked out in a royal blue blazer, cowboy boots, and a mischievous grin.
“I didn’t even know what to say,” Jeanty recalled. “I was like, ‘Hi… Mr. Jones?’ And he goes, ‘You remember me, son?’ Like we were old buddies.”
That’s when it all came flooding back.
About a year earlier, Jeanty had taken a trip to Dallas as part of a community event that partnered college athletes with local businesses. One of the sponsors had deep ties to the Cowboys organization, and they arranged a quick tour of AT&T Stadium. During the tour, Jeanty and a few other players were introduced to Jerry Jones for a photo op that quickly spiraled into chaos.
“We were supposed to just smile, shake hands, take the picture, keep it moving,” Jeanty said. “But someone—I won’t name names—accidentally spilled a bottle of Gatorade all over his shoes. And I was the one who handed him the towel.”
In the moment, Jones had laughed it off, but Jeanty admitted he spent the next 48 hours paranoid that he’d blown a future opportunity with the Cowboys. “I was freaking out. Like, this man is never gonna forget the dude who soaked his boots in Fruit Punch Gatorade.”
Apparently, Jones did remember—but not in the way Jeanty expected.
Back at the steakhouse in Indy, Jones pulled up a chair at Jeanty’s table without even asking. His security detail looked unsure about the whole thing, but Jones waved them off and launched into a full-blown storytelling session about that infamous Gatorade incident.
“He was doing impressions, like full-on reenactments,” Jeanty said, laughing so hard during the interview he had to pause. “He’s like, ‘And then you handed me that towel like you were delivering a baby. I ain’t never seen someone so serious about cleanin’ up a mess.’”
The whole restaurant started watching the scene unfold. Other players and agents tried to pretend they weren’t eavesdropping, but as Jones got louder, it became impossible not to pay attention. At one point, he even flagged down the waiter to ask if they had any Gatorade on the menu, just to keep the joke going.
“I was like, this cannot be real life,” Jeanty said. “Jerry Jones is doing stand-up comedy at my dinner table and I haven’t even ordered yet.”