FRISCO, Texas — Rashan Gary is officially added to the Dallas Cowboys' roster, the start of the new league year having commenced on Wednesday afternoon. With the trade fully executed and the former Green Bay Packers' edge rusher having put pen to paper, the two sides can get to work in the meeting room and on the field.
Gary could not have been more excited to get the phone call letting him know he'd be headed to North Texas, a move that reunites him with defensive coaches Derrick Ansley and [defensive coordinator] Christian Parker — both of whom spent time with Gary in Green Bay.
"When I got the call, my emotions — they were everywhere," he told Nicole Hutchison of DallasCowboys.com. "It's sort of surreal, at the same time, just understanding the connections that I have here in the coach of staff. It just made it feel like my second home, especially with my family being here. It was just a great experience."
The connections run deeper than simply within the coaching staff, though.
Gary is also rejoining Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who landed in Dallas as a part of the Micah Parsons trade prior to the start of the 2025 season. Gary and Clark spent several seasons together for the Packers, and those were some of the most productive campaigns for Gary, all smiles knowing he gets to play alongside one of his closest friends, yet again, going forward.
The vision under Parker is clear, and the pieces on the defensive line are coming together, particularly at defensive tackle with All-Pro lineman Quinnen Williams leading the charge, and Gary can't wait to get started.
"Yeah, there's just this whole experience and everything the Cowboys organization is putting together — I'm happy to be a part of it," he said. "I'm happy to be a part of the start of some change, in the right way. And the guys that you named, and especially being able to come back and play with a guy that I know, and just his work ethic and what the game of football means to [Clark], it means the same to me.
"I just can't wait to go to work and show the Cowboys Nation what I'm all about."
Gary will be tasked with showing versatility as an outside linebacker at times, and a defensive end in four- and five-man sets, and he made it clear having "multiple fronts" will allow him to be "an impact" player for the Cowboys, fully "comfortable" in doing what Parker will ask of him.
And with the formalities all said-and-done, the only thing left to do now … is the work.
