It was late December 2024. The Dallas Cowboys were sliding, the postseason was a pipe dream, and the air at The Star in Frisco felt heavy. Then came the news that felt both inevitable and strangely hollow: Ezekiel Elliott was gone. Again.
This time, it wasn't a shock. Zeke had requested his release, wanting to chase a ring with a playoff contender since Dallas was effectively out of the hunt. Jerry Jones, ever the sentimentalist, obliged. He called Elliott "one of the greatest to ever play with the Star on their helmet."
But let's be real for a second.
The version of Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys running back, who walked out that door in late 2024 wasn't the "Feed Zeke" monster who used to hurdle defenders like they were minor inconveniences. He finished that season with career lows: 226 rushing yards and a 3.1 average. It was a far cry from the rookie who took the league by storm in 2016. Yet, people still can't stop talking about him. Why? Because Zeke represents the ultimate "Value of the Running Back" debate that has defined the modern NFL era.
The Rise and the Relentless "Feed Zeke" Era
Man, that 2016 season was something else. If you were watching back then, you remember the energy. Elliott, the fourth overall pick out of Ohio State, wasn't just a player; he was a lifestyle. He rushed for 1,631 yards as a rookie behind a "Great Wall of Dallas" offensive line that featured Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick in their absolute primes.
He made it look easy.
He led the league in rushing yards twice in his first three seasons (2016 and 2018). In those early years, the formula was simple: give the ball to #21, let him soften up the defense, and let Dak Prescott play-action them to death. It worked. Dallas went 13-3 in 2016, and Zeke was the engine. Honestly, he wasn't just a runner. He was a devastating pass blocker and a reliable receiver. He was the "bell-cow" every team dreamed of.
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Then came the contract.
In 2019, Zeke held out in Cabo. He wanted to be paid like the centerpiece he was. He got it: a six-year, $90 million extension. At the time, it felt like a win for the player. In hindsight, it became the anchor that many fans believe dragged the franchise down.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Decline
There is this common narrative that Zeke "got lazy" or "lost it" right after he got paid. That’s kinda unfair. If you look at the 2021 season, Zeke actually ground out 1,002 yards while playing on a partially torn PCL for most of the year. He was literally running on one leg because the team needed his pass protection and short-yardage grit.
He gave his body to that franchise.
The decline was more about the "tread on the tires" than a lack of effort. Running backs in the NFL have a shelf life that usually expires around age 27 or 28, especially if they’ve been hit as many times as Elliott. By 2022, he was clearly the "thunder" to Tony Pollard's "lightning." He was the short-yardage specialist, the guy you trusted on 3rd-and-1, but the home-run threat was gone.
When Dallas released him the first time in March 2023, it was a business move. They saved money and promoted Pollard. But the Cowboys' offense actually struggled in the red zone without Zeke's "sledgehammer" style. Pollard was great in space, but he wasn't the guy who could move a pile of 300-pound men on the goal line.
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The 2024 Return: A Final Act in Big D
The reunion in April 2024 felt like a warm hug that didn't quite solve the problem. Dallas didn't draft a running back that year—a move that baffled scouts and fans alike. Instead, they brought back a 28-year-old Zeke after his one-year stint with the New England Patriots.
Jerry Jones was optimistic. "We are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke," he said.
It didn't look great.
The offensive line wasn't the 2016 version anymore. The running game sputtered. Zeke was even suspended for a game in Week 9 against the Falcons due to disciplinary reasons, specifically being late for meetings. It was a weird, uncharacteristic blip for a guy usually praised for being an "exemplary teammate."
By the time he was released on December 31, 2024, the Cowboys' rushing attack was one of the worst in the league. Rico Dowdle had taken over the bulk of the work, and Zeke was essentially a legacy act. He ended his Dallas career with 8,488 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns, ranking third in franchise history behind only Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. That’s rarefied air.
The Legacy of the Star
Is Ezekiel Elliott a Hall of Famer? Probably not. The "Peak vs. Longevity" argument hits him hard. But was he the most important Cowboys player of the late 2010s? You could make a very strong case.
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He was the identity of a team that won a lot of regular-season games but could never get over the divisional-round hump. His career is a cautionary tale for NFL GMs about paying running backs, but it's also a testament to what a truly elite, all-around back can do for a young quarterback's development.
Honestly, the "Feed Zeke" era was some of the most fun Cowboys football we've seen in decades. Even if it didn't end with a Super Bowl, you can't tell the story of the Dallas Cowboys without a massive chapter on the kid with the crop-top jersey and the "eating" celebration.
Actionable Insights for Cowboys Fans and NFL Students
If you're looking at what the Zeke era taught the league, here are the real-world takeaways:
- The "2,000-Touch" Rule is Real: Zeke’s efficiency dropped significantly after he surpassed 2,000 career touches. When evaluating your favorite team's RB, look at the career workload, not just their age.
- Red Zone Identity Matters: The Cowboys' 2023 struggles without Zeke proved that you need a "power" element in your backfield. Speed is great, but physics wins on the one-yard line.
- Scheme Over Star Power: The 2016 success was 50% Zeke and 50% an All-Pro offensive line. When the line aged out, the "superstar" RB looked ordinary.
- Cap Management: Never pay a running back a second high-market contract unless the team is one piece away from a ring. The dead money from Zeke's deal hampered the Cowboys' ability to fix the defense for years.
The Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys running back story is officially in the history books. Whether you view him as a legend who gave his all or a symbol of poor financial management, there is no denying the impact he had on the game.
Keep an eye on the 2026 draft. The Cowboys are still searching for that elusive "every-down" replacement, proving that replacing a guy like Zeke—even the diminished version—is a lot harder than it looks on paper.