After spending the 2023 season with the New England Patriots, running back Ezekiel Elliott has agreed to a deal to return to the Dallas Cowboys, where he played for seven seasons prior. The signing of Elliott, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, comes after veteran Tony Pollard joined the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
Elliott played for the Cowboys for seven seasons, through 2022. He took a stand after his third NFL season, holding out for a new contract. He got it, with a favorable structure that forced the Cowboys to keep him perhaps longer than they would have.
Elliott’s best season came as a rookie when he rushed for 1,631 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has had one 1,000-yard season since 2019, with 1,002 in 2021. Last year, Elliott had 642 yards on 184 carries, for a career-low average of 3.5 yards per carry.
Elliott was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler as a rookie. He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 and 2018, too. He became a free agent in March.
