FRISCO, Texas — One megadeal fell through, ultimately, when the Dallas Cowboys opted to trade Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in lieu of resetting the market with a historic deal for him, but things fared far better in their talks with a different All-Pro, namely DaRon Bland.
On Sunday, just four days before taking the field in the 2025 regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Bland agreed to and officially signed a four-year extension worth north of $90 million — effectively making him a franchise player opposite fellow First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs.
"Well, I think, number one, I'm so happy for him," said head coach Brian Schottenheimer of the shiny new contract with one of his best defensive players. "The way he's worked and shot onto the scene a couple years ago, and just kind of came in and made the immediate impact as a rookie playing nickel, and doing things like that, and then to see him a couple years after that, with all the pick-sixes — I'm so happy for him and his family."
The size of that family grew by one in training camp this summer, when Bland welcomed a newborn to it, returning to Oxnard with a massive grin but, as is always the case, with not many words attached to the smile.
"He's a dad now, which I think is great and I talked to him about it, and he's such a humble young man, but so well deserved," Schottenheimer said. "And again, he's just one of those guys that you love him as a teammate, and you love him as a competitor. He doesn't say much but, man, he gives you everything he's got.
"I'm thrilled for him and his family, and this is just very well-deserved."
Bland's story is nothing short of meaningful, transferring from Sacramento State after earning first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors as a junior before seeing his senior season derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He'd regroup and transfer to Fresno State for his final year of eligibility, where he continued making a name for himself with 45 combined tackles and two interceptions, five pass break ups and a forced fumble in 13 starts.
It was enough for the Cowboys to use a fifth-round pick to grab him in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the rest is not just history — it's record-setting history — as Bland now owns the title of NFL Pick-Six King after becoming a solar flare for Dallas' defense in 2023, when he set the league's all-time record for most interceptions returned for touchdown in a season (5) and most defensive touchdowns in a single season as well.
Awarded his first Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro honors for that campaign, he then suffered a broken foot just ahead of the start of the 2024 season, causing him to miss several games in what became a down season.
Now fully healthy, Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, including defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, can move forward knowing they were able to lock in another one of the league's best at the position, and one with elite versatility, to boot.
"He has incredible ball skills, but I also thank God he's got incredible instincts," said Schottenheimer. "His ability to study the game and his knowledge of the game for a young player, relatively young, so uncanny. His ability to read splits and anticipate routes, and things like that? That usually happens when you're older….
"DaRon has just always had the ability to process things very quickly, and then he certainly has elite change of direction and ball skills, which is why the interceptions and the pick-sixes have happened. He's another guy who fits perfectly in our defense."
All eyes now move to Sept. 4 when Bland will look to help the defense shut down the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, and on their field, but without worrying about his contract status.
Talks began months ago, concluded in late August, and now it's just about playing football to a cornerback whose last name doesn't remotely indicate the spice he brings to the field.
