Ezekiel Elliott Ready to Relive Glory Days With Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott (21) of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchdown with Dak Prescott (4) of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter in the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 24, 2022. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Running back Ezekiel Elliott is back home with the Dallas Cowboys, and he is confident that he can relive some of his former glory.

After spending the first seven seasons of his career in Dallas, Elliott signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots last year. Now, Elliott is back in Dallas after agreeing to another one-year deal this week, and he already feels comfortable back with the franchise that selected him fourth overall in the 2016 draft.

“It feels great to be home,” Elliott said. “I definitely missed everyone here. I definitely missed the building. I definitely missed Cowboys Nation. I’m glad to be back and get this thing going.”

Over seven seasons and 103 games in Dallas, Elliott had 8,262 yards rushing on 1,881 carries with 68 touchdowns. He ranks third as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher behind Hall-of-Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.

Elliott was also a three-time Pro Bowler and was named All-Pro in 2016 when he ran for a career-high 1,631 yards. As a free agent this offseason, Elliott was almost immediately engaged in contract talks with his former team.

“They started, obviously, in the offseason,” Elliott said about the negotiations with the Cowboys. “It just kind of picked up around the draft.

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There will be a big opportunity for Elliott to get carries in Dallas. At age 28, he still can be a productive player.

In addition, the Cowboys lost their top running back, Tony Pollard, this offseason after he signed a three-year, $21.8 million deal with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent on March 14, 2024.

Last season, Pollard ran for 1,005 rushing yards on 252 carries with six touchdowns. He also had 55 receptions for 311 receiving yards.

Elliott was happy his former teammate was able to secure a solid financial deal in Tennessee, which also lost its top running back, Derrick Henry, to the Baltimore Ravens.

“It’s definitely good to see T.P. get paid,” Elliott said. “He’s a tremendous back. Helluva career. I’m excited for him and his family. It will be different. You talk about the explosiveness that Tony brings to the room. Any time he touches the football, he can go the distance.”

Elliott had a solid season for the struggling Patriots, who finished last in the AFC East at 4-13. He had 648 yards rushing and three touchdowns over all 17 games, including five starts. He also caught 51 passes for 313 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

“It just shows I can still be a starter in this league,” Elliott said. “I can still play football at a high level so I am excited to continue that here.”

Ezekiel Elliott, when he was #15 with the New England Patriots, warms up prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 1, 2023. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Elliott prides himself on being a versatile back. In addition to being a solid runner for Dallas, he also caught 305 passes for 2,336 yards with 12 touchdowns over his seven seasons. He is also underrated as a blocker and can help pick up blitzes to protect quarterback Dak Prescott.

“I have always prided myself in being an all-around back,” Elliott said. “I not only run the football, I protect the quarterback and catch the ball out of the backfield. I’m excited to continue that here.”

Elliott is also changing his uniform number from No. 21 to No. 15, which he wore at Ohio State, where he finished second as the school’s all-time career rushing leader with 3,961 behind Archie Griffin.

He will be the leader in a Cowboys running back room that currently includes Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, Malik Davis, Snoop Conner, and undrafted free rookie Nathaniel Peat.

Elliott is also embracing the leadership role with the younger players.

“Being in this league for as long as I have been and being comfortable and having as many reps as I had, I can just focus on bringing some younger guys along and helping them find their way,” he said.