Former Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott Announces His Retirement

The Dallas Cowboys have made some significant changes this offseason in an effort to bounce back from their ugly 2024 campaign. While the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and the big trade for star wide receiver George Pickens will turn heads, the Cowboys also revamped their running back room after struggling to get consistent production from this position last year.

After losing Tony Pollard in free agency, Dallas relied primarily on Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott out of the backfield. Dowdle signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, with the Cowboys bringing in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to replace him. Elliott, on the other hand, is still a free agent, and it sounds like retirement may be in the cards for him as training camp approaches.

Ezekiel Elliott Reportedly Contemplating Retirement

Elliott broke into the league with the Cowboys as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and he immediately looked set to become one of the top running backs in the game. As a rookie, Elliott racked up a league-leading 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 32 passes for 363 yards and another score. That production earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team honors.

Over the ensuing eight seasons, though, Elliott never managed to reach those heights again. He earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections in 2018 and 2019, but his production gradually declined to the point where he lost his starting job to Pollard in 2022. Elliott spent the 2023 season with the New England Patriots, showing he had some juice left in the tank, but after latching on with the Cowboys again for the 2024 season, Elliott struggled and was eventually released in December.

While Elliott latched on with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad to close out the year, they ultimately decided not to keep him around. In free agency, Elliott has yet to draw much interest, although that could change once training camp officially arrives. If he doesn’t find his way to another team, though, it sounds like the former Ohio State Buckeyes star could opt to call it a career.

“With no reported interest in free agency thus far, former Dallas Cowboys star RB Ezekiel Elliott could retire after 9 seasons in the NFL,” Sportskeeda reported in a post on X.

Should Cowboys Consider Bringing Ezekiel Elliott Back to Town?

The 2024 season was a rough one for Elliott, as he quickly lost his starting job to Dowdle and ended up turning in the least productive season of his career (74 carries, 226 yards, three touchdowns). Even though the two sides mutually agreed to part ways at the end of last season, Elliott has been linked to the Cowboys throughout free agency, so a reunion could be on the table.

At this stage of the game, though, it would have to be considered unlikely. With Williams and Sanders leading the way, there isn’t much room for Elliott to make an impact. The coaching staff would also likely prefer to give those additional touches to fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue and Deuce Vaughn, who has flashed big-play potential early in his career. Elliott could land elsewhere, but as of right now, it’d be a surprise if he found his way back to Dallas.