RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesDak Prescott’s heartfelt message sets stage for ex-Cowboys QB’s coaching return originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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It is easy to see now that everything was written for former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Will Grier well before he ever announced his retirement.
After finishing his playing stint with Dallas, Grier signed a short-term deal with the Carolina Panthers in April ahead of the draft. However, he decided to walk away from playing altogether on July 15.
The move officially closed the book on a seven-year journeyman career that included stops with the Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals , New England Patriots , Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles .
And that looked like the end of Grier's ties to Dallas, but it wasn't. When Grier retired, Dak Prescott made it clear this wasn't really goodbye. Prescott posted a photo of the two of them to his Instagram story with the caption : "Never retired, just switching lanes. Congrats, my brother."
Nine days later, ESPN's Todd Archer reported that Grier was joining the Cowboys' coaching staff as an offensive assistant and Prescott's message had already perfectly hinted at it. And. Prescott’s Instagram post was the first real clue about where Grier was heading next.
Former QB Will Grier is joining the Cowboys coaching staff as an offensive assistant, according to a source. Grier retired on July 15 after signing with Carolina before the draft. Before joining the Panthers he contemplated joining the Cowboys coaching staff earlier in offseason.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 24, 2026 Just to recap, Grier had two different stints with the franchise. First, Dallas grabbed him off waivers from the Panthers back in 2021. Then, he came back as a backup from 2024 to 2025. Along the way, he built a good friendship with Prescott and tight end Jake Ferguson. In fact, Grier even officiated Ferguson’s wedding this summer.
His path mirrors a transition Dallas has executed before, most notably when Kellen Moore jumped from a Cowboys backup quarterback role directly onto the coaching staff.
Grier, a former West Virginia Mountaineers standout, will now work under head coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Klayton Adams.
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