Wide Receivers Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin both tried to help the Dallas Cowboys find elusive postseason success during their tenures with the franchise. But after moving on to new teams, both are now set to appear in their first-ever Conference Championship Games as members of the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.
Cole Beasley joined Buffalo in 2019 after seven seasons in Dallas. It was a bit of a messy breakup as Cole went public about his frustrations with his limited role and contract, then was equally vocal about how much better he found life with the Bills after signing. Once one of the biggest fan favorites on the roster, Beasley now draws a very mixed reaction from Cowboys Nation whenever he's mentioned.
Like Beasley, Tavon Austin was not re-signed when he became a free agent during the 2020 offseason. After a brief stint with the 49ers that ended due to injury, Austin eventually signed with Green Bay in September and has been a backup WR and return specialist for them the last two months.
Beasley has a far bigger role with his new team than Austin does. But regardless, both have accomplished something that the Cowboys haven't since the 1995 season by reaching their respective Conference Championship Games.
Beasley's Bills will meet the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. Austin and the Packers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a shot at representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Last year, Dallas fans were happy to several former Cowboys win Super Bowls rings as part of the Chiefs' roster. Among them were Linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson and Cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Morris Claiborne. Hitchens, Wilson, and Ward are still with Kansas City this year as they vie to repeat as champions.
A few other Cowboys alumni have a chance at getting a ring in 2020. Former 1st-round pick Taco Charlton is on injured reserve for Kansas City, TE Codey McElroy is on the Bucs' practice squad, and DT Brian Price recently was called up to the Packers' roster from their practice squad.
Cole Beasley has the best chance to get attention this weekend as the Bills' number-two receiver. While his exit from Dallas turned off some fans, many will still be rooting for him and Buffalo to knock off the reigning champs and get the Bills back to the Super Bowl for the first time since their infamous four-straight losses from 1990-1993.
Congratulations to all of these former Cowboys for whatever role they played in helping their teams reach the NFL's final four. Hopefully, it won't take leaving Dallas for our current players to accomplish the same in 2021.
