FRISCO, Texas — And just like that, the 2025 season is over for the Dallas Cowboys and, just like that, Jadeveon Clowney thrusts his name toward the top of the conversation regarding in-house players who deserve an immediate look at landing another contract in North Texas; and amongst names that include running back Javonte Williams and Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens.
It took Clowney just thirteen games and six starts to finish with the most sacks of any player in a Cowboys' uniform, ending the season with 8.5 sacks, including a career-best three-sack game to close out the season against the New York Giants.
The good news for the Cowboys is that Clowney is absolutely interested in re-signing with the Cowboys in the offseason to come.
"I enjoyed this season more than I have in the past few years. It was a blast, even though we ain't win like we needed to, I met a lot of great dudes in this locker room, man," Clowney said following the Week 18 finale. "They have a great mindset, especially in that D-line room, one of the special groups I'd have been with in my career. … Oh, I love those guys."
He went on to explain exactly why that's the case.
"I've got a lot of respect for them because of the way they come to work, and they hold me to a high standard at practice," he said. "It's hard to find guys like that say, 'Hey, bro, you ain't on your sh-t today.' And I'm like, 'Let me tighten up.'
"That's why I like this group. They hold everybody accountable, and it's not about what [draft] round you went in, where you were picked, or how much money you've made. We hold each other accountable, and we go out there to work. … It's been like that since I got here — extremely hard workers, and although the [wins] ain't come my way yet, I feel like if we keep working the way we're working, it's gonna eventually come our way and happen the way we need it to."
To put Clowney's output in New York in perspective, his multi-sack game that included a forced fumble and a fumble recovery made him only the sixth in Cowboys' history to ever achieve that feat, and the first since Micah Parsons did it in 2023, on the same field against the New York Jets.
There are plenty of decisions for the Cowboys to make on the defensive side of the ball this coming offseason, from both a coaching and a personnel perspective, but no one could rightfully argue the overachievement of Clowney, and despite having not had the benefit of a training camp or offseason program.
The veteran pass rusher made it clear he wants to join a team early in the signing process to participate in all of those things next time around, so that he can avoid "rust" and hit the ground running when the 2026 season gets underway.
The team's front office has long said the feelings from Clowney are mutual, and the only thing left to do now is to try to come to terms on what that looks like, contractually, but he's proven he's still got plenty left in the tank, and that he wants to continue emptying it for the Cowboys.
