FRISCO, Texas — Rashan Gary spent seven seasons in Green Bay after the Green Bay Packers took him 12th overall in 2019 out of Michigan. Sunday night is his first opening day as a Dallas Cowboys player.
“Oh, yeah, man. It’s an honor and privilege, and then it’s special because I get to start, I guess, a new journey in my career being a Dallas Cowboy,” Gary said. “So, yeah, this one is a little bit more special.”
Gary came to Dallas this offseason and was voted onto the Cowboys’ leadership council alongside Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Jalen Thompson, and Bryan Anger.
The Cowboys open at the New York Giants, a division game at MetLife Stadium. New York closed last season with a 34-17 win over Dallas at the same building. The Cowboys had taken the first meeting 40-37 in overtime.
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Gary said the Cowboys welcomed him in with open arms and let him be himself from OTAs through camp.
“It’s about that time, about that time. I’m excited. We’ve got a bonus Monday,” Gary explained. “Try to tell myself to stay in the moment, don’t think too far ahead, but very excited.”
Monday was a bonus practice day. Dallas is off Tuesday and returns Wednesday to install the first- and second-down plan, with Thursday and Friday to follow. Brian Schottenheimer said the message in the first team meeting was to stay in the moment and trust the process.
Gary said Christian Parker brings swagger, confidence, and belief in his players, and that the defense has been flying around and communicating since OTAs.
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Parker is in his first season running the Dallas defense. He replaced Matt Eberflus, whose unit allowed 30.1 points per game in 2025, a franchise record, along with 511 points and 60 touchdowns, both league worsts.
“It’s been cool, man. Me being new here, everybody welcomed me in with open arms, allowed me to be myself, and from OTAs all the way to camp, even to this point now, just really becoming close, man,” Gary said. “Really being able to call ourselves brothers and really leaning on that family part of it, so it’s been fun.”
Dallas rebuilt the front around Parker. The Cowboys traded for Quinnen Williams last November and signed him to a three-year, $105.9 million extension on Aug. 10. Kenny Clark anchors the interior next to Williams, and players voted both defensive tackles team captains. Malachi Lawrence was the first-round pick in April, Donovan Ezeiruaku is in his second season, and Von Miller signed a one-year deal on Aug. 16.
Schottenheimer said Monday he sees no physical reason Miller could not play Sunday, and that Dallas has speed at every level on defense.
The Giants have a new staff under John Harbaugh, who brought 15 assistants with him from the Baltimore Ravens. Matt Nagy runs the offense. Jaxson Dart is entering his second season and Cam Skattebo is in the backfield.
Dallas set its initial 53-man roster on Aug. 30 with 26 players on defense. The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 last season and have not won a playoff game since the 2022 season.
Dallas will be without Tyler Smith on the other side of the ball. The starting left guard has surgery on his left thumb Tuesday and is headed for injured reserve with a designation to return.
Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
