After spending a year away from the NFL, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is making his return, signing a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders. The team announced the move on Wednesday, bringing in the veteran pass-catcher to add experience and depth to their receiving corps.
Gallup, 28, last played in the 2023 season with the Cowboys before being released in a cap-saving move. He remained unsigned throughout the 2024 campaign, using the time away to fully recover from lingering knee issues that had hampered his explosiveness. According to sources close to Gallup, he’s now fully healthy and eager to prove he still has plenty left in the tank.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” Gallup said in a statement. “Stepping away from the game was tough, but it gave me time to reset. I’m coming back stronger, and I’m excited to be part of what the Commanders are building.”
Gallup enjoyed a productive five-year run in Dallas, highlighted by a breakout 2019 season in which he recorded 1,107 receiving yards and six touchdowns. However, a torn ACL late in the 2021 season slowed his production. Despite signing a five-year, $57.5 million extension in 2022, Gallup struggled to regain his form, finishing his final season in Dallas with just 418 yards and two scores.
In Washington, Gallup will join a revamped receiving group featuring Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. With new head coach Dan Quinn, who previously worked with Gallup in Dallas, the Commanders are banking on the wideout’s familiarity with Quinn’s system to help him settle in quickly.
Gallup’s signing also gives second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels another veteran target as the Commanders aim to improve their offensive production. The team finished 25th in passing yards last season and is hoping Gallup’s presence can help open up the field.
While details of Gallup’s contract were not immediately disclosed, the deal is believed to be incentive-laden, giving him the chance to earn more based on performance.
After a year away, Gallup is getting a second chance—and the Commanders are betting he can recapture his playmaking form.
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