Back in 2025, Cowboys edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney had his offseason take some odd turns. The Panthers kept him on the roster until after the NFL draft, not officially releasing him until May 8 after his lone season in Carolina. It was a cap move for Carolina, but the timing left Clowney without a team, a situation that remained in place throughout summer training camp and even beyond the start of the season.
It was not until mid-September that Clowney finally landed with and got on the field for the Cowboys.
The 32-year-old Clowney does not want his year to unfold the same way, he said. After racking up 8.5 sacks in 13 games–including 3.0 in Sunday’s finale against the Giants–Clowney has been clear that he intends to play again next season, but that he wants to be signed this spring and go through a normal training camp. Whether that happens in Dallas is yet to be determined.
But if the Cowboys want Clowney back, they will need to be prepared to act quickly (not always this franchise’s strong suit.)
Jadeveon Clowney: ‘Why Would I Quit?’
Speaking to reporters after the Cowboys’ 34-17 loss in New York, Clowney said, “For sure, I am gonna keep playing. (Expletive), why would I quit?”
He added that he did feel at home in Dallas, and that he appreciated the bonds he formed with his teammates–and the way the group holds each other accountable.
“A lot, I enjoyed this season more than I have in the past few years,” he said. “It was a blast even though we didn’t win like we need to. I met a lot of great dudes in this locker room, man. Especially in the defensive line room, this is one of the special groups I have been with in my career, so I enjoy them guys.”
But the goal is find a fit and to get started earlier: “Right situation. All about that. I got my agent, whatever he is gonna do. I want to get going a little earlier than I did this year of course. I felt a little rusty when I first got going, I was missing plays, missing sacks. I want to get going early.”
Cowboys, Jadeveon Clowney Brought Effort in Week 18
Though the Cowboys’ Week 18 game was essentially meaningless, except that the team hoped to get back to .500 and avoid the franchise’s first back-to-back losing records in 23 years, Clowney said he took things very seriously. The 3.0 sacks were the most in a game in his career, and he said he was very much aware of that mark.
“It is always the same,” Clowney said of his Week 18 mindset. “Go out there and play hard and finish. Finish what I start, I never quit on nothing, like I said. I don’t care about the circumstances. Ball was hiked, people were coming out there to watch, gotta play for them.”
GettyDefensive coordinator Matt Eberflus of the Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys Decision on Defensive Coordinator Still to Come
Clowney did sidestep one of the big issues facing the Cowboys in the aftermath of this season–the future of embattled defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who could be fired after after a disastrous defensive season in Dallas.
Clowney said he appreciated Eberflus and would not be opposed to playing for him again.
“I don’t know. I am a fan,” Clowney said. “I like his energy, he got great energy. We just got scored on sometimes. We just got to execute on a high level, together. Sometimes it don’t have nothing to do with the calls. It’s just being on the same page. Some people are getting the calls, some people not.
“I don’t know what is gonna happen in that situation, I stay out if that. I just try to take care of my business and look forward to next year.”
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