Just 3 Hours After Ravens Back Out of Star Maxx Crosby Trade, Cowboys Immediately Receive "Massive Offer" from Raiders – GM Jerry Jones' Response Signals Dallas Will Be the Next NFL Spotlight

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – The 2026 NFL free agency period continues to deliver surprising reunions. According to multiple insider reports, Rico Dowdle — the former Dallas Cowboys running back — could reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy after McCarthy officially took over as the new leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dowdle’s time in Dallas was a story of perseverance and development. He joined the Cowboys in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, immediately earning McCarthy’s trust during the coach’s first season with the franchise. Even after Dowdle suffered a serious hip fracture during training camp in 2021, the Cowboys chose to keep him rather than release him. Over the following seasons, Dowdle steadily proved his value. What began as a quiet role as a backup eventually grew into a reliable presence in the Cowboys’ offensive system. His breakthrough moment came during the 2024 season — Mike McCarthy’s final year in Dallas — when Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Despite that impressive season, the Cowboys ultimately chose not to re-sign Dowdle when he entered free agency. The running back later signed a modest $2.75 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, initially expected to serve as a backup behind Chuba Hubbard. However, Dowdle quickly created another breakout chapter in Carolina. He eventually earned the starting job and finished the season with 1,076 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 236 carries. He also added 39 receptions for 297 yards, becoming one of the key contributors to the Panthers’ playoff push. One of Dowdle’s most memorable moments came against his former team. Before facing the Cowboys, he warned his former teammates to “buckle up.” He then backed up those words with a spectacular performance — rushing for 183 yards, adding 56 receiving yards, and scoring a touchdown to help Carolina secure a dramatic 30–27 victory. Now, as Mike McCarthy begins a new chapter with the Steelers, bringing Dowdle to Pittsburgh appears to be a logical move. McCarthy has trusted the running back since their early days together in Dallas, and with the Steelers continuing to reshape their roster, the reunion could provide both depth and experience to the team’s offense.