The Unbelievable Story: How Jerry Jones Nearly Bought the Chargers with a Jimmy Hoffa Loan

Before he became the iconic, larger-than-life owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones was a relentless businessman with an eye for opportunity, even if it meant venturing into uncharted and somewhat infamous territory. A shocking revelation from the new Netflix docuseries "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" unearths a truly unbelievable chapter from Jones's early career: his audacious attempt to purchase the San Diego Chargers in 1967, nearly sealed with a $5 million loan from none other than notorious Teamsters Union boss, Jimmy Hoffa.

In a candid moment captured in the series, Jones recounts his determined pursuit of the NFL franchise.

He describes flying to Washington D.C. to meet Hoffa, who was then facing significant legal battles, including an appeal of a jury tampering conviction. Despite Hoffa's formidable reputation, Jones surprisingly characterizes their interaction as "gracious" and "gentlemanly." The budding entrepreneur was desperate for capital, and Hoffa, a man with vast resources at his disposal, seemed to be the unlikely answer to his prayers.

The staggering sum of $5 million was on the table, a substantial amount in 1967, and enough to secure a controlling stake in the Chargers.

Jones was on the cusp of finalizing the deal, paperwork being drawn up, when fate, or rather, the justice system, intervened. Before the loan could be fully processed and the funds transferred, Jimmy Hoffa was incarcerated, putting an abrupt end to what would have been one of the most unexpected partnerships in sports history.

The Chargers deal, just within reach, slipped through Jones's fingers.

While the Chargers acquisition never materialized, the experience was far from a failure for Jones. He reflects on how the negotiation process, particularly the insights gained into structuring such a massive deal, proved invaluable.

This newfound knowledge and tenacity were later applied to his foray into the United States Football League (USFL), where he owned the Arkansas Travelers. This earlier, wild venture underscored his relentless drive and unconventional approach to business, traits that would define his future.

Ultimately, it would be decades later, in 1989, that Jerry Jones would finally achieve his dream of owning an NFL team, purchasing the Dallas Cowboys for a then-staggering $140 million.

This acquisition was financed through his immensely successful oil and gas ventures. Interestingly, even at this later stage, Jones faced skepticism; he famously ignored advice from the team's previous owner, Clint Murchison Jr., who warned him it was a "losing deal." But Jones, true to form, forged ahead, transforming the Cowboys into one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world.

The Hoffa anecdote merely highlights the extraordinary, often winding, path of a man destined to leave an indelible mark on American sports.