‘Top This!’ Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: DaRon Bland Reveals Super Bowl Week Goal
ORLANDO - Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland enjoyed a phenomenal second season. Still, the first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler has his eyes set on an even loftier accolade next season.
Bland gave an exclusive interview with CowboysSI.com while here in Orlando for the NFL Pro Bowl and talked about his career up to this point and where he plans to elevate it to next season.
DaRon Bland took his game to a whole new level in his second season with the Dallas Cowboys, establishing himself as an elite defender.
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Heading into 2023, Bland was focused on one thing, "Growth, just tryna get better from my rookie season," Bland said.
However, when asked what he wanted for himself in 2024, he revealed that he's targeting something physically obtainable.
“Defensive Player of the Year," Bland said.
The award has only been won by a cornerback six times since being established in 1971, with the only defensive back to win it in over 12 years being Bland's current Cowboys teammate, Stephon Gilmore, back in 2019 with the New England Patriots.
So, is Bland winning the award an obtainable goal? When looking at his development, it becomes apparent that, at the very least, he shouldn't be counted out.
As a rookie in 2022, Bland made the most of his opportunities, finishing the season with five interceptions in just eight starts, totaling 54 tackles and two quarterback hits in his first season.
Despite a strong start to his career as a Cowboy, Bland didn't allow himself to get complacent. Bland admitted to trying to increase his interception totals in year two.
"I tried to top myself and the five interceptions from last year," Bland said. "Gladly, I got it."
"Got it" might be the understatement of the year. Bland had a historic 2023, miraculously going from five interceptions as a rookie to setting an NFL record with five pick-6s in his first season as an established NFL starter.
After leading the NFL with nine interceptions and adding another 69 tackles, three of which were for loss in 2023, Bland remains as driven as ever regarding his third season but said there are no specific numbers he's chasing before adding the caveat, "Not yet."
Considering Bland's unprecedented success in his career up to this point, the Cowboy-turned-ballhawk has proven that there's no ceiling to what he can accomplish, so why not him for Defensive Player of the Year?
Dallas' play-making star of the secondary will have an opportunity to notch another interception today and start building buzz for his 2024 aspirations in the Pro Bowl Flag Football Game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, at 2 pm CT.
And on Thursday in Las Vegas for Super Bowl Week? Bland will be on stage for NFL Honors with a finalist’s shot - alongside teammate Micah Parsons - at DPOY … and CowboysSI.com will of course be there to cover it.
