Tag: Cowboys

Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Cowboys to place franchise tag on George Pickens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the team’s website that Dallas wants to keep George Pickens for “a long time,” and will take a step toward that by placing the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl wide receiver, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Per the report, the fully guaranteed tag — which can be applied from Feb. 17 to March 3 — will cost the Cowboys approximately $28 million.

By placing the tag on Pickens, Dallas would limit his free agent options and up the odds that he would stay put following a 93-catch, nine-touchdown and 1,429-yard campaign — all career-high numbers. Pickens also collected his first Pro Bowl nod and earned second-team all-NFL honors per the Associated Press.

“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Jones told the team website this week. “He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”

Pickens, who turns 25 on March 4, is among 15 unrestricted free agents for the Cowboys — a group that includes defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and running back Javonte Williams.

Count quarterback Dak Prescott among those in Cowboys camp who want to see the former Georgia star receiver return this fall.

“I think it must be done,” Prescott said at this week’s Pro Bowl Games. “I think obviously from Jerry to everybody down understands that. The impact on this offense and the team and the great player that he is, we’ve got to find a way to keep him here.”

In four NFL seasons, including the first three with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft, Pickens has produced 267 receptions, 21 touchdowns and 4,270 receiving yards in 65 games (55 starts).

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A general view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Cowboys to play in NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys will participate in the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro in 2026, the league announced Thursday.

The 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium, which has hosted World Cup matches and the 2016 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, will host the game. The league previously announced Rio as one of its new international markets; at least three regular-season games will be played there in the next five years.

The Cowboys’ opponent and the game date will be announced at a later date, but it’s likely to be early in the season. The NFL came to Brazil for the first time in 2024, and its Sao Paulo games in 2025 and 2026 were played on Friday of Week 1.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo in 2024 and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs there this past year.

The NFL is adding International Series games in Melbourne, Paris and Rio for the first time in 2026 while continuing series in London, Madrid, Mexico City and Munich. Earlier Thursday, the NFL announced the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers would contest the Melbourne game, the league’s first in Australia.

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during NFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dak Prescott tosses 4 TDs as NFC wins fourth straight Pro Bowl Games

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes to lead the NFC to a come-from-behind 66-52 win over the AFC in the Pro Bowl Games Tuesday in San Francisco.

Prescott completed 11 of 13 passes for 169 yards with a pair of touchdowns in each half, as the NFC secured fourth win in as many years of this updated version of the All-Star event.

This year’s games did away with the skills competitions and was solely the flag-football game to build hype around the sport, which is coming to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Prescott’s Dallas teammate CeeDee Lamb led the NFC with 80 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Another Cowboys player, tight end Jake Ferguson, also had two touchdown catches and 57 receiving yards, and Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown caught five passes for 68 yards and a score.

Jared Goff (149 yards, two TDs) from Detroit and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (92 yards, three TDs) also saw the field as NFC QBs.

An Ohio-centric quarterback room led the AFC’s offense. Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Bengals QBs Joe Burrow and first-time Pro Bowler Joe Flacco each threw for two touchdowns, but also threw a combined four interceptions.

Texans receiver Nico Collins led the AFC with 93 receiving yards and a score on five catches, and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught seven passes for 76 yards with a receiving TD and an interception returned for another score.

After the NFC jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the AFC responded with 32 straight points, featuring a pair of safeties, a 50-yard interception return by Chase and both a touchdown catch and an extra-point grab from Broncos offensive lineman Garrett Bolles.

But the NFC cut the deficit to 44-36 at halftime and scored 24 straight second-half points to take a 60-52 lead with 6:21 left on a 10-yard Cowboys connection from Prescott to George Pickens, who was named the offensive MVP.

Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the game’s defensive MVP, came up with a tip-drill interception on the ensuing AFC possession, and the NFC iced the game with Hurts’ touchdown to Lamb with 24 seconds left.

49ers legend Jerry Rice served as honorary coach for the NFC, with San Francisco quarterback Steve Young in the same role for the AFC.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb added to Pro Bowl roster

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb replaced Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Wednesday on the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster.

Lamb will be considered a Pro Bowler for the fifth straight season. He will join fellow Cowboys wideouts George Pickens and KaVontae Turpin on the roster, however the latter is listed as a return specialist.

Lamb, 26, had 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (13 starts) this season.

Smith-Njigba, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in his third season, will lead the Seahawks into Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Report: Steelers to interview Cowboys’ Lunda Wells for OC opening

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to interview Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells for their offensive coordinator opening, according to a report by ESPN.

Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was hired to replace Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, and one of his first big moves could be to lure away Wells, who was on his staff for five years in Dallas following eight seasons with the New York Giants.

Wells, who is serving as the West head coach for Tuesday’s East-West Shrine Game, also interviewed for the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator job earlier this month. That position eventually went to David Blough, who was promoted from assistant quarterbacks coach.

The Steelers are looking to replace Arthur Smith, who accepted the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State.

Wells, 42, is credited with helping to develop several quality tight ends in Dallas, including Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson, who set career highs with 82 receptions and 8 touchdowns this season.

Dallas’ defensive coaching staff has already undergone significant turnover since Christian Parker was hired away from the Philadelphia Eagles to replace fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

The Cowboys informed defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and secondary coach David Overstreet II that they will not return. Meanwhile, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton left to become the Tennessee Titans’ run game coordinator and defensive line coach after getting passed over in favor of Parker.

The Cowboys have reportedly interviewed Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin, Eagles linebackers coach Ronnel Williams and Minnesota Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon for roles on Parker’s staff.

If Wells takes over the DC job in Pittsburgh, he could look to bring some Cowboys assistants with him.

Dallas was 30th in total defense this past season and 32nd (last) in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game. It was last in third-down defense, giving up a first down on more than 47% of third-down snaps.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points on 59 opponents’ touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Cowboys closing in on Eagles’ Christian Parker as next DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys are working to hire Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Christian Parker as their next defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

Parker, 34, has spent the past two seasons working under Vic Fangio with the NFC East-rival Eagles.

Parker will be the fourth defensive coordinator hired in Dallas in as many years.

Matt Eberflus was fired as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator after he failed to repair a defense that struggled in 2024 then allowed 30.1 points and 377 yards per game in the 2025 season.

Dallas was 30th in total defense this past season and 32nd (last) in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game. It was last in third-down defense, giving up a first down on more than 47% of third-down snaps.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points on 59 opponents’ touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception.

–Field Level Media

Packers release CB Trevon Diggs after brief stint

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The Green Bay Packers have released cornerback Trevon Diggs, the Packers announced Tuesday.

By releasing Diggs, the Packers will save just over $15 million against the cap in 2026.

The 2021 first-team All-Pro honoree was released by the Cowboys on Dec. 30 with three years left on his contract and subsequently claimed off waivers by the Packers one day later.

Diggs, 27, appeared in just two games for Green Bay: The regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings where he played 33 snaps and the Packers’ wild-card loss to the Chicago Bears where he played just one snap.

Diggs broke out onto the scene in 2021 where he led the league in interceptions with 11, returning two for touchdowns, and was named to the Pro Bowl along with the All-Pro nod. He was rewarded with a five-year, $97 million extension in July 2023.

But Diggs has dealt with multiple injuries since then, playing in just 21 of a possible 50 games. He tore his ACL two games into the 2023 season and missed the final six games of 2024 with a left knee injury.

Diggs found himself on the injured reserve list again this past season, reportedly to help strengthen a problem with his right knee, though he also reportedly suffered a concussion at his home.

He was released by the Cowboys shortly after he didn’t fly home with the team on Christmas after a win over the Washington Commanders. Diggs asked coach Brian Schottenheimer if he could stay in Maryland to spend the holiday with family and was denied, then Diggs skipped the team flight.

Schottenheimer said that Diggs was waived for multiple reasons, not just because he didn’t fly home with the team.

In 67 career regular-season games (64 starts), the 2020 second-round pick has 20 interceptions, 63 passes defended and 242 tackles across six seasons.

In other moves, the Packers signed defensive linemen Jaden Crumedy and quarterback Kyle McCord to reserve/future contracts.

McCord, 23, was selected in the sixth round out of Syracuse in last year’s draft and has yet to make his NFL debut.

Crumedy, 25, appeared in eight games (zero starts) across two seasons for the Carolina Panthers, where he registered 15 tackles and one-half sack. The Panthers selected him in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.

–Field Level Media

Jason Witten named Oklahoma tight ends coach

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Oklahoma officially introduced Dallas Cowboys great Jason Witten as its new tight ends coach on Thursday.

It is the first collegiate coaching position for Witten, who replaces Joe Jon Finley on Brent Venables’ staff.

Witten, 43, was an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Cowboys (2003-17, 2019) and Las Vegas Raiders (2020).

“I love football and I love teaching the game, and Oklahoma is as prestigious a college football program as there is in the country,” Witten said. “So I’m thankful to Coach Venables for the opportunity to work together. It’s been clear to me from the outset that he’s one of the best leaders of men in football. And he has the pieces in place to compete for championships, so I’m excited to work under him. … It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to be a Sooner.”

Since 2021, Witten has been the head coach at Liberty Christian School outside Dallas, where his son, Cooper, is ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the Class of 2027 by the 247Sports composite rankings.

“When you talk about Jason Witten you start with the impeccable human being he is,” Venables said. “That’s as a competitor, a leader, a coach, a dad, a husband. He’s one of those rare people who represents incredibly high character, integrity and excellence. He’s a tremendous communicator blessed with unbelievable interpersonal skills. That’s who he was as a leader in the locker room as a player, and you can see the impact and influence he had as a head coach at the high school level at Liberty Christian. He’s really special in that regard.”

A two-time All-Pro, Witten caught 1,228 passes for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in 271 games and was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2012.

A third-round pick by Dallas out of Tennessee in the 2003 NFL Draft, Witten is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) and ranks second in touchdowns (72), one behind Dez Bryant.

Witten is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, his first year of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys pull plug on short-lived Matt Eberflus experiment

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Matt Eberflus is out in Dallas, where the former Bears head coach failed to repair a defense that allowed 30.1 points and 377 yards per game in the 2025 season.

Eberflus, a former linebackers coach with the Cowboys, was trumpeted as a home-run hire by franchise owner Jerry Jones last winter.

With the latest change, the Cowboys are set to hire a new defensive coordinator for the fourth time in four years.

Jones hinted Sunday night after a loss to the Giants to end the regular season that a full review of the defensive coaching staff was likely.

“I might not couch it as difficult,” Jones said of making another change at defensive coordinator. “It’s certainly something that we have to do. And that is to look at the entire year and look at what our options are, and how to correct it so we’re not here at the same time next year. Now, that’s not uncommon to evaluate at this time of the year — your entire coaching staff. And, obviously, the target is on him because of our statistical, as well as actual play on the defensive side of the ball, but that goes with it.”

Dallas subtracted All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons days before the regular season began and the Cowboys scrambled to field a productive defense most of the year.

Dallas was 30th in total defense, 32nd (last) in passing defense at 251.5 yards per game and last in third-down defense, giving up a first down on more than 47% of third-down snaps.

The Cowboys allowed a franchise-record 511 points, a total of 59 offensive touchdowns and 11.9 yards per reception.

–Field Level Media

Raiders clinch No. 1 pick as Giants knock off Cowboys

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Jaxson Dart threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Giants closed the season with a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Rookie kicker Ben Sauls added four field goals for New York (4-13), which could have earned the top overall choice in the next NFL draft with a loss and a Las Vegas win against Kansas City. Instead, the Raiders clinched the No. 1 pick before hitting the field for their season finale.

Dak Prescott played the first half for Dallas (7-9-1) and completed 7 of 11 passes for 70 yards to push his season total to 4,552 yards, tops in the NFL. Matthew Stafford can eclipse him with 105 yards in the Los Angeles Rams’ regular-season finale against Arizona.

Joe Milton III played the second half and hit 7 of 13 passes for 73 yards with an interception.

Dart, who hit on 22 of 32 passes, put the Giants ahead for good with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Bellinger with 20 seconds left in the first half. It capped a 96-yard drive and made it 16-10 at intermission.

Dart found Tyrone Tracy Jr. on a 13-yard strike at the 9:48 mark of the third quarter for a 24-10 advantage. After the score, Dallas defensive lineman Donovan Ezeiruaku was ejected for ripping the helmet off New York offensive lineman Greg Van Roten.

Phil Mafah pulled the Cowboys within 24-17 with a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. But the Giants put the game away on Sauls’ 30-yard field goal with 9:23 remaining and Devin Singletary’s 6-yard scoring jaunt with 5:47 left.

Sauls initiated scoring with a 45-yard field goal at the 9:15 mark of the first quarter, four plays after Prescott fumbled when he slipped after taking the snap. Brandon Aubrey tied it at 3 with a 22-yarder with 5:21 left, followed by Sauls’ 35-yarder with 1:17 remaining.

Dallas took a 10-6 lead on Jaydon Blue’s 14-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds on the clock, but Sauls made a 23-yarder at the 9:45 mark to pull New York within a point.

–Field Level Media