From the street to Thanksgiving hero, Cowboys RB Malik Davis is defying the odds
On April 30, Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis was called into the office of head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
When he walked in, his head coach was sitting next to vice president of player personnel Will McClay. Less than a week after the team selected Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of the NFL draft and knowing there were too many running backs on the roster, it couldn’t have been a good thing.
In that conversation, the Cowboys cut Davis for the fourth time in his career. Since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022, the road has had a lot more downs than ups. Just as he broke onto the scene as a rookie, he was passed on the depth chart by Rico Dowdle going into 2023. In his third year, he was left on the practice squad for the entire season.
And now, heading into his fourth year, he was put on the street once again. But unlike the other instances where he signed back to the practice squad and remained in the building, this time was different.
“When we cut him in April, it was the right thing,” Schottenheimer said. “It really was. Will and I sat him down, and we explained to him why.”
After calling Dallas home for three years, Davis turned in his playbook, gathered the loose items in his locker and departed The Star in Frisco for what he thought would be the last time.
“To be honest, no, I did not think I’d be back here,” Davis said.
With his NFL future in doubt, Davis did the only thing he knew to do: return home.
A few months later, he was one of the Cowboys’ stars in a Thanksgiving win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Back to Tampa
Originally from Tampa, Florida, where Davis played his high school ball at Jesuit High School, he returned to the Sunshine State with some comfort despite being cut.
After having gone through three offseasons with the Cowboys, Davis knew the routine. He knew the regimen, the schedule. But instead of having to check in every day with his coaches or report to higher-ups, everything Davis did to prepare was now on him.
“I was just at home training, staying ready,” he said. “I had my own type of camp going on. I know their schedule well, so I was just trying to stay on their schedule as much as I can because it was the only one that I know. I stayed with it, stayed consistent while I was home, and it worked out for me.”
Davis was called in for a couple of workouts with teams around the league, but no one pulled the trigger on bringing him in. All throughout his own individual training camp, one coach remained in contact: Brian Schottenheimer.
“He always showed me support,” Davis said. “He’s really a great guy. I’m not just saying that. Behind the scenes, he checked on me all the time.”
Going back to Cali
Just days before Schottenheimer would take the field to coach his first preseason game as an NFL head coach, one of his stars in training camp went down with a high ankle sprain: Jaydon Blue — the same player who took Davis’ spot on the roster.
In a pinch and knowing that he did not want to trot out eventual starter Javonte Williams, he needed a guy he knew would be ready to play in just two days’ time. The decision was easy: Malik Davis.
“We bring him into Oxnard,” Schottenheimer said. “And from the moment I hugged him on the practice field, there was something different about him. He realized that this was a fleeting dream if you don’t attack it right every day. He’s always worked hard, always been a talented runner. The maturity, the work ethic and the absolute desire he shows to be a successful, very good NFL football player has been on display from the very get-go.”
Playing in the game as the team’s third option behind rookie Phil Mafah and Deuce Vaughn, Davis ended up receiving the second-most carries on his way to leading the team in rushing with 63 yards. It kept him on the roster for the rest of training camp.
“The guy came back when we signed him back and you could just see the hunger in his eyes and the way that he approached the game,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Whether it’s just trying to make the roster at first and then making the roster just to being a dog on special teams. He would say, ‘Hey, that’s the only reps I get. I’ve got to make the most of it’ to now that he’s gotten an opportunity in the backfield, it’s no surprise to me.”
Flying up the depth chart
Davis would end up getting cut once more at the end of training camp, but it wasn’t for good this time. He was signed back to the practice squad the next day with the expectation that he might get some opportunities to play on special teams at some point in the season.
After a couple of practice squad elevations for that exact purpose, he began to earn more trust from Schottenheimer and the coaching staff. As Blue started to slip in some areas off the field, according to Schottenheimer, Davis slowly started to rise.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the job Malik Davis is doing for us,” Schottenheimer said Oct. 29. “We’re all about creating competition. It’s not just creating competition on the defensive side of the ball for jobs and who’s going to play. It’s on offense as well, and that would be another battle to watch.”
Five days later, Davis was officially the RB2, and Blue was made inactive. He would end up having to be cut once again to make room for another player one day after making the rise on the depth chart, but he was signed to the active roster on Nov. 22 for what appears to be the rest of the season.
“I just couldn’t be happier for Malik,” Schottenheimer said. “I think his future is on the rise.”
Unlikely Thanksgiving Day hero
While his backup running back status has certainly helped give Javonte Williams a breather at times, the majority of Davis’ responsibilities have been as the personal protector on the punt team.
In a role that Schottenheimer compares to a quarterback on offense or being the lead communicator on defense, the personal protector calls out the fronts before a punt and is responsible for identifying any block threats at the line.
That role has typically been served by safety Juanyeh Thomas, but Davis stepped in after Thomas landed on the non-football injury list earlier this month with a continued migraine issue.
“I’ve been playing this game since I was a kid,” Davis said. “This is what I’ve worked for my whole life to get at. It’s just me proving to myself that I belong here, to myself first and then to my teammates that I can help win games.”
While his offensive touches had been limited to just 10 through four games, an opportunity on Thanksgiving Day earned him even more trust in the locker room and with the coaching staff.
The Cowboys trailed the Chiefs 14-10 and faced second-and-1 from the Kansas City 43-yard line as Davis stepped onto the field. Brought on to pick up the first down, he did just that.
And a lot more.
“It was just as easy as hitting the hole,” Davis said. “The guys did a good job up front, made some great blocks, and I just had to run hard. It was like a movie, I was just thanking God.”
Following two big blocks from fullback Hunter Luepke and center Cooper Beebe, Davis went untouched into the second level before putting a Chiefs safety on skates with a hard cut and dashing to the end zone for his second career touchdown.
While he made his dash for a cemented spot on the depth chart, his self-proclaimed biggest fan celebrated behind him by throwing both arms in the air.
“I don’t know if there’s a bigger fan in our locker room than me for Malik Davis,” Prescott said. “I’ve been a Malik fan since from day one, even when he was cut, I was a guy that was very disappointed. I’m just so excited for him. He’s reaping the benefits of the hard work that he puts in, but I can tell you he’s not satisfied. He’s going to keep working, and that’s why I love him and that’s why I’m such a fan of him.”
It’s a blessing for Davis, but it’s also a credit to the hard work that was put in over the offseason when he didn’t think he could make it back onto an NFL roster. Just seven months after that call into Schottenheimer’s office and one day after his 27th birthday, his future has never been brighter.
“I got to give all glory to God,” Davis said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be here. It feels amazing, finally the hard work that I put in and that my teammates have put in is showing.”
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM.
