FRISCO, Texas - Tyler Goodson has barely had time to unpack, and that’s been part of the job.
The former Iowa running back landed with Dallas on Sept. 15 after the Cowboys claimed him off waivers from Atlanta, making the move his fourth different team since 2023. A couple of weeks earlier, Atlanta had signed him to its practice squad. That kind of churn is just part of the NFL, and Goodson has already learned how quickly things can change.
The 25-year-old, who played for the Hawkeyes from 2019 through 2021, has settled in fast. He debuted for Dallas in the last-second loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27 and made an immediate impact with six carries for 22 yards and a touchdown.
He then followed that with three carries for 12 yards in the Cowboys’ win at Houston on Oct. 4.
“It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Goodson said in the locker room prior to the win at Houston. “The best thing about coming over here is I already knew a couple of the guys and the running backs coach (Derrick Foster) coached me at Iowa. He made me comfortable with the guys and knowing him made me comfortable, as well.”
That familiar face has mattered. Foster coached Goodson for all three of his seasons in Iowa City, and the reunion has given the running back something steady in the middle of a fast-moving stretch.
“The people around the locker room are good teammates as well. The adjustment of learning new people is never a problem.
The hardest thing about it was becoming accustomed to everything so fast and learning the playbook in two weeks. Then, we traveled to Rio.
Everything has happened so fast, I was just trying to find ways to slow everything down, slow my mind down, but overall, the transition has been good.”
He said that sense of speed has been the biggest challenge.
“That’s all I’ve tried to do since I got here, is find ways to slow it down,” Goodson said. “I got picked up overnight, so now I’m trying to find a place to move, getting acclimated in the building, and find a way to slow my mind down.”
Goodson’s path to this point has already covered a lot of ground. After Iowa, he signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent and spent time on their practice squad.
The Colts gave him his NFL debut in 2023, and he remained with Indianapolis through 2025. The Falcons had him on their practice squad earlier this season before Dallas made the claim.
Through it all, he keeps leaning on the same lesson Kirk Ferentz stressed at Iowa.
“Just try to be a pro. Coach Ferentz is all about bringing in guys who are able to get the job done and take care of their business,” Goodson said.
“He was always great to me along with the whole staff. He teaches you how to be a man and a pro on and off the field. That was probably the best thing for me coming out of college to the NFL because here, it’s the same type of mentality and the same philosophy.”
On the field, Goodson believes he’s grown a lot since first entering the league in 2023. He says the game has slowed down for him, and that change shows up in the details.
“Coming in, I was more of a guy who was just trying to make plays. Now, it’s all about going out there and letting it come to me,” Goodson said.
“Over the years, I’ve become a more patient back. Everything has slowed down for me like where my eyes go and keys are at.
Film study helps me know where people are most likely going to be lined up. Overall, route running, pass protection, running the ball, vision (have all improved), whatever the case may be.
“That’s what you want every day (is to become a better all-around player). That’s what you strive for.”
What hasn’t changed is the part of the job he loves most.
“(My favorite part) is scoring touchdowns for sure, making people miss,” he said.
Goodson also got back to Kinnick Stadium this fall, returning for Iowa’s 16-13 win over Iowa State on Sept. 12. The trip brought back plenty of memories.
“I would say the whole experience there - the Hawk Walk, seeing a lot of people tailgating, coming out for pregame warm-ups and everybody is already in the stadium ready,” Goodson said. “And then when the game starts, you do the ‘I-O-W-A’. The whole experience for me was amazing.”
“I tell my parents all the time, college game days are one of a kind, especially at Kinnick. I went back for the Iowa-Iowa State game because when I was there, we had COVID, so we didn’t get to play them at Kinnick.
We always played Iowa State on the road. That was really my first time seeing the rivalry game in Iowa City.
It’s a great experience and while I was there, I was like, ‘I miss this.’”
He was in South America when Iowa beat Michigan on Sept. 26, so he missed most of that game, but he caught enough to know what was happening.
“There was a time difference. I caught the last quarter,” he said.
“It had me on the edge of my seat a little bit, but I saw it. It was good to see.
It was good to see the offense open up because they’re normally known for running the ball. That’s all they’re known for.
Now, they’re starting to open up the passing game and it’s good to see.”
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