FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that Kyle Hamilton may be the best safety or defensive back in pro football. Dallas faces Hamilton and the Baltimore Ravens four days from now at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Baltimore lists Hamilton as a defensive back rather than a safety on its depth chart, with two other players at the safety spots. The Ravens drafted him out of Notre Dame with the No. 14 overall pick in 2022.
Hamilton is a two-time first-team All-Pro, in 2023 and 2025, and was a second-team All-Pro in 2024. He had 105 tackles in 16 games last season.
Baltimore sends Hamilton when it needs a play, and he is always around the line of scrimmage, Schottenheimer said.
“I won’t compare players,” Schottenheimer said. “Kyle Hamilton is maybe the best safety, DB in pro football. I mean, this guy’s an absolute game wrecker. When they’re needing to make a play, they’re going to send him. He’s always around the line of scrimmage. He’s massive, ball skills. He’s the entire package.”
“We played him a couple years ago, and I don’t remember being around a guy that’s played and is as big of a difference maker as this guy is in so many different faculties,” Schottenheimer continued. “So, huge fan. Supposedly he’s a great young man, but wow, what a great football player.”
Caleb Downs Starts Rookie Season In Dallas Cowboys Secondary
Schottenheimer declined to compare Hamilton with Caleb Downs, the Cowboys’ rookie safety. Dallas drafted Downs out of Ohio State with the No. 11 overall pick in April. He won the Lott Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award in 2025 and was a unanimous All-American in 2024 and 2025.
Through two games, Downs has 8 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. His sack came against Jaxson Dart in the opener. Later Wednesday, Schottenheimer called Downs “an elite player” in an answer about the three rookies playing prominent roles on the Cowboys’ defense.
Baltimore Ravens Defense Before Rio
Baltimore is 1-1. The Ravens beat the Indianapolis Colts 41-23 in Week 1 and lost 24-17 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Wide receiver Zay Flowers did not practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.
The Cowboys and Ravens last met on Sept. 22, 2024, a 28-25 Baltimore win at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff Sunday is 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS, with Dallas as the designated home team.
