Will Grier’s NFL playing days are over, but his next stop may already be lined up in Dallas.
The former Cowboys quarterback retired before training camp after signing with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, ending a seven-year career that took him through six NFL teams. And for Cowboys fans, the move feels like it could be the setup for something more: a return to The Star, this time in a coaching role.
Grier’s connection to Dallas runs deeper than most backup quarterbacks who have passed through the building. He had two separate two-year stints with the Cowboys, and he’s also a close confidant of Dak Prescott. That combination is why his retirement immediately brings back the idea that he could land on Brian Schottenheimer’s staff.
The possibility isn’t coming out of nowhere, either. According to The Athletic’s Joseph Person, Schottenheimer already offered Grier a spot on the Cowboys’ coaching staff earlier this offseason before Grier signed with Carolina. As Chad Grier said, Will was leaning toward taking it before the Panthers called.
Grier’s path with Dallas was mostly spent in the background, but it stretched across several seasons. He first arrived in 2021 through the waiver wire after the Cowboys moved on from Ben DiNucci. That year, he backed up Prescott and Cooper Rush, was active for one game, and never saw the field.
In 2022, he stayed around longer, serving as Rush’s backup while Prescott was sidelined by injury. Then came the 2023 preseason finale, when Grier put together a huge performance against the Las Vegas Raiders before Dallas waived him at final roster cuts in favor of Trey Lance.
After bouncing around for a stretch, Grier found his way back to Dallas in 2024. That second run was quieter.
He joined the practice squad in November of 2024, was active for one game that season, then spent the entire 2025 campaign back on the practice squad. He finished his Cowboys career without a regular-season appearance.
Still, the fit for a coaching role is obvious enough. Schottenheimer’s staff may already be set, but teams rarely pass up another voice in the quarterback room, especially one who knows Prescott well. And if Dallas wants to add another low-level assistant, the money is there.
Grier’s role in Carolina would have been to help mentor Bryce Young, but the Cowboys’ offer shows how much value Dallas saw in him already. As John Owning put it, a "New member of the Cowboys coaching staff [is] coming soon."
For now, Grier’s playing career is done. The next chapter may be waiting in Dallas.
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