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Cowboys Re-Sign RB Javonte Williams Ahead of Free Agency

The Cowboys are bringing back Javonte Williams on a three-year deal.
Javonte Williams is returning to Dallas next season.
Javonte Williams is returning to Dallas next season. | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The Cowboys are bringing back running back Javonte Williams.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys are re-signing Williams to a three-year, $24 million deal that includes $16 million in guarantees.

Williams returns to Dallas after a stellar first season with the Cowboys. He signed with the Cowboys on a one-year, $3.5 million deal last offseason and exceeded expectations as he carried the ball 252 times in 2025 for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. It was the first time Williams surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in his career as he finished top-10 in both rushing yards and touchdowns.

More: 2026 NFL Free Agency: 10 Best Running Backs Available

Williams played a key part in the Cowboys turning into one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses this past season as they finished second in total yards per game and seventh in points per game. Now, he’s cashing in for his efforts and returning to Dallas on a multi-year deal while the Cowboys avoid letting another team sign him in free agency next month.

This is the start of what should be a busy offseason for the Cowboys, who also want to re-sign star receiver George Pickens and bolster their defense.


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Eva Geitheim
EVA GEITHEIM

Eva Geitheim is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in December 2024, she wrote for Newsweek, Gymnastics Now and Dodgers Nation. A Bay Area native, she has a bachelor's in communications from UCLA. When not writing, she can be found baking or re-watching Gilmore Girls.