As the 2025 NFL offseason progresses, Cowboys fans everywhere are finding themselves in a mix of emotions.
While there is the excitement of a new season on the horizon, there’s also a sense of sadness as we bid farewell to players retiring like Zack Martin just did.
Others have their contracts expire and leave in free agency like so many others have before.
Still, there are players who leave for other teams that sting a little more than usual. Today, the Dallas Cowboys team and fans lost a real one.
Jourdan Lewis, a beloved and respected member of the defense since 2017, accepted the richest contract of his career to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars on the first day of free agency.
Though this departure stings, it doesn’t diminish the appreciation and respect that Cowboys fans have for everything Lewis did during his time in Big D.
When Jourdan Lewis was drafted by the Cowboys in the 3rd round of the 2017 NFL Draft, expectations were high for the All-American cornerback from Michigan.
He had a reputation for ball skills, intelligence, and toughness. At the time, many fans felt the Cowboys needed to bolster their secondary, and Lewis was seen as an immediate solution in the slot.
Over the next few years, he proved just that and then some. He became one of the cornerstones of a Cowboys secondary that transformed into one of the NFL’s stingiest on several occasions during his career.
Reliability and Consistency
One of Jourdan Lewis’s most notable traits after his toughness was his consistency.
Whether it was in the slot or on the outside, Lewis was always one of the more reliable cornerbacks on the roster.
His ability to play in both man and zone coverage, combined with his elite tackling ability, made him a fixture in the Cowboys’ defensive backfield.
His quickness, agility, and football IQ allowed him to regularly shut down opposing receivers, and while he wasn’t the biggest corner, he made up for it with his tenacity and football smarts.
In the slot, a position where many cornerbacks struggle, Lewis shined. His ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball was evident, and over the years, he racked up 10 interceptions and 44 pass breakups.
It wasn’t just his interception numbers that made him valuable. It was his ability to disrupt the timing of opposing offenses.
Whether it was covering uber-quick slot receivers, making crucial tackles in the open field, or simply being in the right place at the right time, Lewis always played with a high level of awareness that made him a critical piece of the Cowboys’ defense.
A Playmaker
Lewis might not have always received the same spotlight as some of the Cowboys’ more high-profile players, but when it came to making a big play, he was often at the center of it all.
Cowboys fans will never forget his interception versus the Detroit Lions during the 2022 season.
He secured the interception, but injured his foot in the process, eventually leading to a grueling rehabilitation process that many believed he wouldn’t recover from.
Dallascowboys.com’s Patrik “No C” Walker wrote up an incredibly inspirational feature on Jourdan Lewis getting deep into the effects of his injury and how he was able to overcome.
That play was a testament to Lewis’ attitude as a Cowboy. He made the play that needed to be made because the team needed it.
The interception helped shift the momentum in the game, leading to a Cowboys’ victory. Lewis’ ability to make a timely play in the clutch was a hallmark of his career with the Cowboys.
His final interception as a Dallas Cowboy will be one that we won’t forget for a long time.
In a crucial game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with playoff hopes still alive, Jourdan Lewis saved his only interception of the season for when it mattered most.
Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield fired a deep post pattern with Lewis in coverage. The Baker bomb came down right at the goal line and mixed up in four arms.
Lewis and the Bucs’ wide receiver got their arms tangled up around the ball and went to the ground fighting for possession.
J-Lew came up with the interception, but the kicker was that he didn’t even know he was fighting for the ball.
He had blanket coverage on the wide receiver, but wasn’t able to swing his head around to look for the football. No matter, he snagged the best interception of his career.
That interception showcased the best of Jourdan Lewis: a gritty, hard-working player who always gave his all, no matter the situation.
A True Cowboy
Throughout his time with the Cowboys, Jourdan Lewis embodied what it meant to be a Dallas Cowboy: a player who played with pride, passion, and heart.
He was never one to shy away from a challenge, often taking on the toughest assignments on the field.
His leadership in the locker room and on the field was undeniable, and his dedication to the team was evident in everything he did for the team and the surrounding communities.
Even as the Cowboys went through some up-and-down seasons, Lewis remained one of the most consistent and reliable performers, giving fans a player they could count on week in and week out.
While the Cowboys and Lewis might have parted ways, the impact that he made in Dallas will be felt for years to come.
He was a player who, despite being undersized and overshadowed at times, found his way to make his presence known.
His heart, passion, and commitment to the game will forever be appreciated by Cowboys fans everywhere.
As Lewis embarks on a new chapter with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cowboys Nation will continue to root for him, as we always do for the players who gave their all to the Cowboys and their fans on the field on Sundays.
While his time in Dallas may have come to an end, the memories and the impact he made during his tenure will forever be etched in Cowboys history.
Thank you, Jourdan Lewis, for your dedication, your hard work, and your plays that we’ll never forget.
You will always be a Cowboy at heart. Best of luck in Jacksonville.
Jourdan Lewis finishes his Cowboys career with 115 games played, 386 tackles, 19 TFL, 5 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries, 44 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, and 9.5 sacks.