Jonathan Bullard signed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. The 32-year-old defensive lineman, entering his 11th NFL season, agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $2.5 million.
He chose to sign the paperwork on the birthday of his late grandmother Joyce, a longtime Cowboys devotee he described as the kind of fan who spent Sundays “hollering at the TV.”
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the deal on X, citing Bullard’s agent Jon Perzley of Sports Stars NY.
Bullard Brings Veteran Depth to a Cowboys Defensive Front in Transition
Bullard was originally a third-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman has now suited up for seven different NFL teams.
He spent three seasons in Chicago before the Bears cut him. He then cycled through Arizona, Seattle, and Atlanta before landing in Minnesota for the most consistent run of his career.
With the Vikings from 2022 to 2024, Bullard started 38 games and posted 108 combined tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans
Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) tackles Houston Texans running back British Brooks (44) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The #Cowboys are signing veteran DL Jonathan Bullard, per his agent Jon Perzley of @SPORTSTARSNYC.
Bullard is signing a one-year, $2.5M max deal on the day of his late grandmother Joyce’s birthday, which is fitting because he’s said she was a “hollering at the TV” Cowboys fan. pic.twitter.com/1F27t1dDHq
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 28, 2026
His 2024 season was his most productive individually, finishing with 17 starts and 41 tackles under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Last year with the Saints, he appeared in 15 games and tallied 26 tackles, with six starts. His role leaned toward run defense, which reflects where his value has been most reliable in recent years.
Durability had been a concern earlier in his career. Between 2019 and 2022, he missed a combined 30 games. The past three seasons in Minnesota and New Orleans marked a healthier stretch.
Across 131 career games and 59 starts, Bullard has 6.5 career sacks. The pass-rush numbers are modest, but his run-stopping reliability is why he has stayed in the league this long.
At Dallas, Bullard reunites with defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, who worked with him in Minnesota during the 2024 season. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer also has prior history with Bullard, having served as Seattle’s offensive coordinator when Bullard played there in 2020.
Dallas Rebuilds Its Defensive Line After Key Starters Departed This Offseason
USATSI 27051235
Sep 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Jonathan Bullard (58) at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Dallas moved significant pieces off the defensive line in March. The Cowboys traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick, and Solomon Thomas was also dealt away, leaving gaps in the interior.
First-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker, brought over from the Philadelphia Eagles, is now tasked with installing a new 3-4 defensive system under Schottenheimer.
Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark are the projected anchors of that defensive front. Former Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, who signed on a one-year, $3 million deal earlier this month, joins Bullard in a competitive rotation.
The 2026 NFL Draft still gives Dallas a path to address longer-term needs on the defensive line. Bullard is not the headline addition on this unit, but the starting-level experience and coaching familiarity he brings are genuine assets.