FRISCO — The initial breaking news regarding the signing of Jadeveon Clowney suggested it could’ve been a knee-jerk reaction to what the Cowboys showcased on Sunday in a 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants. A limited pass rush and 450 passing yards from Giants quarterback Russell Wilson only aided that speculation.
That narrative was dispelled by Clowney himself on Monday after he officially signed with the Cowboys. He said he and the team had an agreement — on a one-year deal with a base salary of $3.5 million that could max out at $6 million — prior to Sunday’s win.
That doesn’t change the fact that Clowney will be tasked with helping this team, however.
The former No. 1 overall pick may be 32, but he believes he has plenty to offer the Cowboys, starting with Sunday’s game on the road in Chicago. Clowney said he expects to play. He even said he could play a lot, citing his past experience with short turnarounds and the current shape he’s in.
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“The sky is the limit for me,” said Clowney, who has had a combined 15 sacks the last two seasons. ”I don’t feel like I’m getting old. Terence Crawford just beat somebody at 38 years old, so I’ve got a lot left in the tank, man.”
New Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney talks about signing with Cowboys during a Monday press conference at The Star in Frisco, September 15, 2025.
Calvin Watkins / Staff Photographer
The Cowboys believe there’s not only talent there, but a willingness to pursue the extent of it.
“What I’m most excited about is there’s a fire and a hunger you see when you talk to him about how much he’s missed it,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “That’s not with all players that take the offseason off and training camp off.”
Clowney doesn’t fall into that latter category because he said his fire never went out. Clowney said he didn’t take time off after last season — his 11th — finished. He said he worked out like normal until something abnormal happened: when the season began, he was still a free agent. He called his agent with a request.
“I ain’t stop working out yet,” Clowney recalled saying. “Get me on a team. So let’s get it … hurry up and make it happen while I’m still in that mindset and the drive is there and me just grinding was there.”
Clowney’s agent, Kennard McGuire, reached out to the Cowboys. It was a team Clowney had his eye on for a while this offseason. It was a team, he said, he wanted to play for, even before the team traded Micah Parsons.
The Cowboys were interested, too. They had him in for a visit last week. He stayed at the facility for the majority of the day. He even watched practice from a rooftop overlooking the field alongside Cowboys scouting assistant Josh Brent. Clowney left the facility without a deal, but with interest.
Clowney was also interested because of the familiarity he had with Schottenheimer. The two crossed paths in Seattle. They caught up during Clowney’s visit. The two even had a call later in the week after Clowney left. Schottenheimer mentioned how Clowney’s son didn’t know Schottenheimer’s name, to which the Cowboys’ coach responded, “You might.”
Now, he will.
“I respect him a lot,” Clowney said. “I’m going to play hard for the guy and just try to do my job for this team.”
Clowney believes he can help a Cowboys team that has four sacks in two games. The Cowboys wouldn’t have brought him in if they didn’t believe it, either. But Clowney said that he’s going to try and be himself and not try to be the fix to the Parsons loss. Schottenheimer shared a similar sentiment.
“Jadeveon is just another good member of our football team,” Schottenheimer said. “Let’s not go overboard. We’re thrilled that we’re adding a really good football player, but he’s not here to replace anybody. He’s here to play great defense and help us.”
Clowney believes he can. He’s also motivated to do so.
“I’ve got seven primetime games to prove and show the world,” Clowney said. “That was my whole thought with coming down here. I get to play in prime time and put myself out there again.”
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