It's been a rollercoaster ride for quarterback Sam Howell in recent years. But the former Washington Commanders fan favorite quietly found a new home once again in free agency.
But it's not going to go down well with Washington's passionate support.
There was a time when the Commanders genuinely saw Howell as a potential long-term option under center. His one season as the team's No. 1 option was full of ups and downs. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy placed way too much pressure on him within a pass-happy system. Washington was chasing most games, further complicating matters.
Howell's fate was sealed when Ron Rivera got canned, and the Commanders secured the No. 2 pick in 2024. It's been a whirlwind couple of years since, with the signal-caller bouncing around the league without doing enough to catch on anywhere. Now, he's joined Washington's most hated rival.
Sam Howell stays in the NFC East after joining Commanders' bitter rivals
The former North Carolina standout has signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Howell is now expected to back up Dak Prescott in 2026.
Astonishingly, this will be Howell's third NFC East club, and he's only entering his fifth season. He started in Washington. The Philadelphia Eagles acquired him via trade, where he played No. 2 to Jalen Hurts last season. Now, he's in Dallas, which is quite the tour of franchises that aren't exactly fond of one another, to put it mildly.
It also seems as if Howell has accepted his situation for what it is. He's not proven enough to even compete for a starting job. A career backup role is much more feasible, and he is still young enough to keep improving. But when he's been tasked with live-fire reps under center, he's often found wanting.
Howell still has his fans among Washington's fan base. His supporters claim he got dealt a bad hand, and that has some merit. But when the new regime decided that Jayden Daniels was their guy, general manager Adam Peters got a tremendous return by trading the 2023 starter to the Seattle Seahawks.
The signal-caller's arrival in Dallas won't move the needle one way or another. Howell is an understudy, so the Commanders won't have much to worry about. But any fans who were eager for the player to thrive elsewhere will undoubtedly change their tune after this decision.
As for the Commanders? They will hope Daniels stays healthy within schematic concepts better suited to maximize his immense talent. And if that has to come at the expense of Howell and the Cowboys, it'll make it all the sweeter.