Von Miller signs one-year deal with Dallas Cowboys

Von Miller has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys in August 2026, as the team seeks to shore up a defense that struggled throughout the 2025 season.

Dallas finished the 2025 campaign ranked last in the NFL in scoring prevention, a result that intensified scrutiny on the coaching staff and accelerated plans to reshape the front seven. The club also ended 2025 ranked 26th in sack rate, reflecting issues creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks even in competitive games.

Edge group to include Rashan Gary and younger Dallas plans a rotational role to manage Miller’s workload Team officials said Miller is not being signed Team officials said Miller is not being signed to handle a full-time load. Instead, the Cowboys intend to deploy him as part of a defensive end rotation, with an expected snap share of roughly 40% to 50% of defensive plays. The usage range is designed to help preserve Miller over the NFL’s 17-game schedule while still maximizing his impact in high-leverage passing situations. Dallas’ approach signals a focus on situational disruption rather than relying on one player to carry the pass rush. Edge group to include Rashan Gary and younger players Dallas officials indicated the rotation is expected to include Rashan Gary, along with younger prospects such as Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence. The stated objective is to combine veteran output with developmental snaps for players who will be asked to contribute quickly. Star defender Micah Parsons was traded to the The plan also reflects a significant change from the prior year. Star defender Micah Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers last year, reshaping how Dallas distributes snaps and designs pressure packages off the edge.

Miller arrives as the active career sack leader

Miller joins the Cowboys at age 37 as an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL’s active career sack leader. Dallas is counting on his experience to translate into dependable pressure within a defined role, particularly on passing downs. Von Miller In 2025, Miller recorded nine sacks with the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys are aiming for that kind of production to help lift a unit that finished among the league’s poorest performers across multiple defensive measures.

Texas return adds mentorship expectations for 2026

The move is also a homecoming for Miller, a Texas native who played college football at Texas A&M and grew up a Cowboys fan. Beyond his on-field role, the team expects him to mentor a young group of outside linebackers.

Dallas officials said that even a shift toward a league-average defense could materially alter the club’s season outlook, given an offense they view as high-scoring and capable of keeping the team in the NFC East race and in contention for a postseason berth in 2026.

For the Cowboys, the underlying wager is clear: without a meaningful defensive response after the 2025 collapse, broader goals become harder to reach. How quickly the rotation comes together, and whether reduced snaps still generate timely pressure, remain central uncertainties as the season approaches.