‘Disrespected’ Former Cowboys RB Is Closing In On NFL History

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Rico Dowdle has spent the past two seasons proving people wrong. The Dallas Cowboys let him leave even after he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2024. A year later, the Carolina Panthers also moved on after another 1,000-yard season.

Now, Dowdle begins a new chapter with the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a two-year, $12.25 million contract. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes Dowdle could be one of the NFL’s best value signings this season.

Dowdle also has a chance to make history. If he rushes for 1,000 yards again in 2026, he will become the first running back in NFL history to record three straight 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams. He would also join Ricky Watters and Willis McGahee as only the third running back to have a 1,000-yard season with three different NFL teams.

Dowdle Keeps Answering Every Doubt

Davenport believes Dowdle still does not receive the recognition his production deserves.

“Rico Dowdle is the Rodney Dangerfield of running backs. The man just can’t get no respect,” Davenport wrote on July 4. He noted, “Despite topping 1,000 yards on the ground each of the past two years, Dowdle doesn’t get a lot of run when folks talk bout running backs.”

Davenport also pointed to Dowdle’s reunion with former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. He believes that familiarity could help Dowdle continue his success and make his new contract one of the league’s best values.

Dowdle already reminded Dallas what it lost last season.

Before the Cowboys faced the Panthers in Week 6, Dowdle told his former team to “buckle up.” He backed up those words with 239 yards from scrimmage in Carolina’s 30-27 win. The performance set a Panthers franchise record and came while Cowboys running back Javonte Williams finished with just 29 rushing yards on 13 carries.

.@ricodowdle revenge game 😈@Panthers | @FedEx pic.twitter.com/K6F5OTvwQ0

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

The game got strong reactions across the NFL.

“I didn’t know Emmitt Smith was going to show up in a Panthers uniform,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on First Take after the game.

Former Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart also praised Dowdle’s performance.

“We’ve been saying he was a dog … today he was a horse, Is he the best running back in the league right now? Because he’s sure playing like it,” Stewart said.

Dowdle followed that big game with another strong performance. He finished with 473 total yards over his next two games. NFL on CBS noted that he gained more total yards in those two games than Saquon Barkley had all season at that point.

Now, with a fresh start in Pittsburgh, Dowdle has another chance to prove his critics wrong and make NFL history.