FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys claimed Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, putting the running back back in an offense run by Klayton Adams. Adams coached the Arizona Cardinals offensive line in 2023 and 2024, which were Demercado’s first two seasons in the league.
Adams is in his second season as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Demercado ran for 507 yards across the two years he spent in Adams’ offense in Arizona.
Demercado said Adams called him not long after his agent delivered the news that Dallas had put in the claim.
“Klayton’s my guy,” Demercado said. “As soon as my agent called me and he told me Dallas, and I just immediately thought about Klayton. And then he called me. We got on the phone. Super excited to work with him again.”
Arizona’s lead back over those two seasons was James Conner, who ran for 1,040 yards in 2023 and a career-high 1,094 yards in 2024. Conner became the third player in Cardinals history to run for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, joining Ottis Anderson and Edgerrin James.
Demercado is glad Adams got the coordinator job in Dallas.
“His run game is unbelievable,” Demercado explained. “He’s proven it time and time again. So to be a part of that again, I’m excited.”
Emari Demercado Ran For 507 Yards Under Klayton Adams In Arizona
Demercado played 14 games as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and made 2 starts, carrying 58 times for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns and catching 21 passes for 119 yards. He carried 24 times for 223 yards and a touchdown in 2024, including a 53-yard score against the Chicago Bears. Arizona placed him on injured reserve on Dec. 14, 2024, and an ankle sprain cost him three games that season.
Adams left for Dallas after the 2024 season. Demercado stayed in Arizona one more year, appearing in 13 games and running 44 times for a career-high 312 yards and a touchdown. His 413 scrimmage yards that season were also a career high.
Demercado said there was more to Adams in Arizona than the offensive line work.
“His track record is proven,” Demercado said. “We put together, I think James had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, so clearly the proof is in the pudding. But there was more to it, and I’m glad he got this opportunity. I’m glad to be here with him now.”
Javonte Williams Ran For 1,201 Yards In Klayton Adams’ First Season
Adams’ first year calling the offense in Dallas produced a 1,000-yard rusher of its own. Javonte Williams carried 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025 and signed a three-year extension worth $24 million in the offseason. Malik Davis, who won the backup job in training camp, ran 52 times for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns over 10 games last season. The Cowboys finished 7-9-1.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Dallas had Demercado circled going into the waiver claim window, and he pointed to the run schemes Demercado had already run for Adams, along with his pass protection and his special teams work, as reasons the team wanted him. Schottenheimer also said other former Arizona staffers in the building spoke for Demercado.
Dallas opens the regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. The Cardinals visit AT&T Stadium in Week 8.
