When Dan Quinn became Washington Commanders head coach in 2024, he brought no shortage of players and assistants with him from his former position as Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator.
Center Tyler Biadasz, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., wide receiver Noah Brown, and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene all followed Quinn to D.C. from the Commanders' arch-rival. Now, he's taking a low-risk flier on a previously talented wide receiver who could carve out a role for himself next season.
All besides Fowler (who went back to Dallas) are set for another season in Washington. The Commanders signed another former Cowboys standout to join them. Michael Gallup penned a one-year, vet minimum deal after initially retiring following the 2023 campaign.
Commanders are looking to reaffirm their dominance over the Cowboys in 2025
The 2018 third-round pick from Colorado State was productive early in his career, accounting for more than 1,100 receiving yards in 2019. Gallup's production slowly declined afterward and he was released by the Cowboys last offseason. After briefly signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, he announced his intentions to retire from football.
The door was always open for a return, though.
Gallup will now have a chance to make another NFL roster with the Commanders throughout offseason workouts. It's unclear how big of a role he'll play following a year out of the league, but in the best-case scenario, he could compete with his former teammate Brown for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr.
At the very least, Gallup's signing signals one thing. The contrast between the Commanders' culture under Quinn and the one currently clouding Dallas couldn't be more substantial.
While the Cowboys remain at a crossroads with an uncertain future and dysfunctional identity that starts and ends with the micromanaging owner/general manager Jerry Jones, the coach he formerly employed turned Washington into a desired destination. And he did it quickly.
Gallup stated during his opening presser that he "wasn't in the right head space" after his exit in Dallas. The wideout also acknowledged that Quinn was a major reason he signed with the Commanders. That matters.
He expressed some high praise for Jayden Daniels, McLaurin, and more. Gallup sounds like a player with something more to prove, and one who genuinely wants to be in D.C.
After decades of being the team in the Cowboys' position, Gallup's signing is the latest reminder of how refreshing it is for the shoe to finally be on the other foot.
Players want to come to Washington. They want to play with Daniels. They want to play for Quinn. They want to play for the Commanders franchise.
Whether Gallup works out or not, the tide has turned at long last.
More Commanders news and analysis
manual