Cooper Rush’s time with the Dallas Cowboys is over, but he still holds the city of Dallas close to his heart.
Rush arrived in Dallas as an undrafted rookie and left as a seven-year veteran after signing a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million, including $4.2 million guaranteed, with the Baltimore Ravens.
Cooper Rush Shares Heartfelt Message on Leaving Dallas Cowboys
Rush shared his tribute to Dallas in an Instagram post on March 19, thanking fans for their love and support over the years. The quarterback also expressed gratitude for his time in Dallas and said he was excited to play for the Ravens.
“From an undrafted rookie wearing #7 to an eight-year veteran wearing #10, I appreciated every moment in a Cowboys uniform. Thank you, Dallas, for all of the love that you showed to me and my family. I’m excited for the next chapter but forever grateful for the first one.”
Rush originally signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and spent most of his career as Dak Prescott’s backup. He had a brief stint with the New York Giants before being released in 2020, then returned to Dallas and carved out a stable role. Across 38 career games, the 31-year-old has thrown for 3,463 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Rush isn’t a game-changer, but he proved his reliability last season. He posted a career-high 1,844 passing yards and 12 touchdowns while going 4-4 after Prescott’s injury. He finished the regular season ranked No. 36 (60.0) with a D- grade in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
He will now serve as Lamar Jackson’s backup in Baltimore, and choosing the Ravens was apparently an easy decision for him.
“It kind of came out of nowhere, and [I] was super excited when my agent said the Ravens called,” Rush said. “Obviously, from afar there in Dallas, you see the Ravens are a well-run, good organization. Obviously, tons of success, especially recently. So, I was like, wow, O.K., this is sweet. It materialized, and here we are,” he said on a team-sponsored podcast, “The Lounge.”
The 31-year-old also said he was excited to play for a Super Bowl contender with a strong offense similar to the Cowboys.
“It’s really exciting to be on a good team,” Rush said. “You get to 9–5, we had some good teams down there in Dallas, so you don’t have to play out of yourself. You can play within yourself, do your job, rely on your teammates, and I think you have a similar situation here. Really good offense. Just kind of go do your job, get the ball to the fast guys, let them work, and do whatever you need to do to go win.”
Rush will step in for Josh Johnson, the 38-year-old journeyman who threw just three passes across six games last season. Jackson was remarkably durable in 2024 — he did not miss single a game due to injury — but the Ravens are ensuring they have a capable backup plan.