Running back Ezekiel Elliott is returning to his hometown of Dallas after a year away. The Cowboys and Elliott are reuniting, with Zeke taking a significant pay cut this time around. Despite earning more than $70 million in his career with the Cowboys, Elliott is coming back on a one-year, $3 million deal with $2 million guaranteed.
Elliott, 28, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cowboys, who drafted him in 2016 with the fourth overall pick. He had several outstanding seasons in Dallas but was let go after the 2022 season when the team selected Tony Pollard as his potential successor. Elliott then signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.
However, Pollard did not lead the Cowboys any closer to a Super Bowl victory, eventually signing a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans during the offseason. In the meantime, Elliott had a decent season with the Patriots but had not yet inked a deal for the 2024 season.
Reports emerged in late March that both Elliott and the Cowboys were interested in reuniting. They met the day before the 2024 NFL Draft to discuss their mutual interest. When the Cowboys did not use any draft picks on a running back, it became clear that a reunion was on the horizon.
Elliott’s significant pay cut reflects both
