DALLAS — Former Cowboys running back and Ohio State great Ezekiel Elliott will return to Dallas for the 2024 season, reuniting with the team where he started his professional career.
Elliott, 29, was a two-time rushing champion with Dallas and was waived by the Cowboys a year ago to cut costs.
The then-veteran running back signed with the New England Patriots for his eighth NFL season. That contract was for one year. It's reportedly worth up to $6 million.
The Cowboys selected Elliott with the fourth pick in the first round of that year's NFL Draft, a top running back from Ohio State who finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2015. He spent his first seven seasons in Dallas.
A person familiar with the new one-year deal confirmed to The Associated Press that Elliott will return to the team. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement is pending a medical examination. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Cowboys confirmed they recently met with Elliott and his agent during last weekend's draft, according to the Associated Press.
Dallas surprised some observers by not selecting a running back in last week's NFL Draft, according to the Washington Post. There was speculation that they would select Texas' Jonathon Brooks. He was widely regarded as the top tailback available. However, the Carolina Panthers selected Brooks in the second round on Friday.
According to the Associated Press, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he still thinks Elliott can be a starting pitcher.
Elliott returns to a team that also includes Rico Doodle, who was Elliott's teammate from 2020 to 2022, and sophomores Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke. Dallas also added Royce Freeman this offseason.
Elliott won the rushing title in two of his first three seasons with the Cowboys and finished as the third-leading rusher in franchise history with 8,262 yards. He trails two of the NFL's all-time rushing leaders, Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
