Ben DiNucci Hits Free Agency Again-Could a Reunion with Dallas Be in the Cards?
Dak Prescott has been the steady hand under center in Dallas for nearly a decade now, quietly becoming one of the NFL’s most established starting quarterbacks. While the Cowboys front office has had its share of contract drama with Prescott, there’s been little doubt about who QB1 is in Big D.
The backup spot, though? That’s been a revolving door.
From Cooper Rush holding it down for a few seasons to the Cowboys exploring younger options like Trey Lance and Joe Milton, Dallas has made it clear they’re always looking to solidify the depth chart behind Prescott. But one name from the past still draws attention every time it pops up: Ben DiNucci.
And once again, DiNucci is back on the market.
The former Cowboys quarterback is officially a free agent after his contract with the Denver Broncos expired following their loss in the AFC Championship Game. While he didn’t take a snap during Denver’s playoff run, his presence was a familiar one in the building-especially for head coach Sean Payton, who brought DiNucci back as an emergency option when Bo Nix went down with a season-ending ankle injury in the Divisional Round.
DiNucci had been on Denver’s practice squad before, spending the 2023 season there. So when the Broncos found themselves short on quarterbacks in late January-a time when the pickings are slim-DiNucci was a logical call.
Still, despite two stints in Denver, DiNucci never saw the field in a regular-season game for the AFC West champs. That’s been the story of his NFL journey lately.
After his initial run with the Cowboys, he bounced around the league with stops in Buffalo, New Orleans, and Atlanta. At each of those places, he was buried on the depth chart, only seeing action in the preseason.
You have to go back to 2020 to find his last regular-season snaps. That year, during Mike McCarthy’s first season in Dallas, DiNucci played in three games-including one start.
In that lone start, he went 21-of-40 for 180 yards with no touchdowns and two lost fumbles. Not exactly a dream debut, but it was a tough situation for a rookie seventh-rounder thrown into the fire.
Since then, DiNucci has become something of a cult figure among NFL fans. He’s embraced the journeyman lifestyle, often announcing his own signings on social media and leaning into the role of the ultimate underdog. At 29, he’s still young enough to stick around the league, especially in a third-string capacity where teams value experience and locker room presence just as much as on-field production.
And who knows-2026 could see him back in a familiar uniform.
With Will Grier also hitting free agency this offseason, the Cowboys may find themselves in need of a depth option behind Prescott. If Grier signs elsewhere, DiNucci could be a name worth watching. He knows the system, he knows the building, and he’s always ready when the phone rings.
For now, DiNucci is once again waiting for that next opportunity. But if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that he won’t be waiting long.