‘I Still Got It’: New Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook Addresses Age Concerns

Newly acquired Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook recently joined fellow running backs Ezekiel Elliot, Duece Vaughn, Hunter Luepke and Rico Dowdle in an effort to spark a career resurgence.

Many fans took to social media to question Cook’s abilities as a 29-year-old running back, but Cook is poised to prove those fans wrong.

Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook is confident in his abilities

Cook, who played for Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer when Zimmer was the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, said Zimmer played a big role in his decision to come to Dallas.

Cook also explained to the media that his age should be of no concern and that his “resume speaks for itself.”

How much of the Viking Dalvin Cook is still left?

Cook: “I (still) got it.” He said that Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer, who coached him in Minnesota, had everything to do with him signing with Dallas. “I’m gonna be ready to go. … My resume speaks for itself.” pic.twitter.com/cj9ZBBjRRx

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 29, 2024

Cook was originally picked by the Vikings with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He has been in the league for seven years, but his production dropped off a cliff in the 2023 season.

Dallas Cowboys RB Dalvin Cook had a down year in 2023

In his first NFL season away from Minnesota, Cook looked for new beginnings and a chance at a deep playoff run when he joined the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season.

Before 2023, Cook had four straight years with over 1,100 yards rushing. He peaked in 2020 when he had 1,557 yards rushing and 16 trips to the endzone.

When 2023 rolled around, Cook’s ability to produce tanked. He only had 214 yards on the season despite playing in 15 games. He averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry, a full 1.2 yards per carry less than his previous career low.

Cook is just two years removed from his fourth Pro Bowl selection, but many fans have already written him off as an afterthought. If Cook can be three-quarters of what he was in 2022, he will prove to be a solid acquisition for the Cowboys.

Despite a poor showing in 2023, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was all to familiar with what Cook can do having faced off against him twice a year as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy addressed his ability in an ESPN article.

“Personally, I’m a fan,” said coach Mike McCarthy, who played against Cook as the coach of the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. “I’ve seen him run down the sidelines from the opposite side of the field too many times. Just a hell of a player.”

While Cook has spent the majority of his career as a bell cow type running back who shoulders the majority of the load for his team’s running game, he explained in the same ESPN article that he is prepared to attack the 2024 season as a group rather than an individual.

“My years in Minnesota it was Dalvin, Dalvin, Dalvin, give him the ball. Now, just a little adjustment,” Cook said. “Help everybody and be productive. That’s just my mindset. I’m going to be ready to go, being around Zeke, I can obviously learn a lot from him. He’s older than me. Just soaking up the game, still. Learning from the young guys, too. Just being a part of this group, I feel like we’re going to push each other.”

Get More NFL and College Football Content

For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.