Dec 25, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks through the tunnel before the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Jerry Jones Backs Nick Saban's True Feelings on Cowboys Rookie Caleb Downs 1
The Dallas Cowboys defense has been searching for an identity since trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Jerry Jones addressed that hole in April by moving up to No. 11 overall to grab Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs, giving up the No. 12 pick along with two fifth-rounders.
Roughly four months later, with Downs now through training camp in Oxnard, the owner and GM made clear the pick has lived up to the buildup. He’s referring to Nick Saban’s praise to prove he made the right choice.
The exact Nick Saban praise that locked in Jerry Jones’ verdict
Downs initially launched his college career at Alabama, shining as a true freshman under Saban before transferring to Ohio State. By the time he wrapped up his three-year college run, he had racked up 257 total tackles, 12 pass breakups, six interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Dallas Cowboys, Caleb Downs, NFLDallas Cowboys, Caleb Downs, NFL
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number eleven pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Along the way, he captured the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, secured the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, and earned unanimous All-American honors twice. He was also a crucial defensive player for the Buckeyes during their dominant CFP National Championship run in 2024.
Saban, who coached Downs for that one year in Tuscaloosa, didn’t hold back when talking about him during the pre-draft process.
“This is as fine a young man as you’re ever going to find to be a part of your team,” Saban said. “He’s a great competitor. He’s got great character. He’s so instinctive as a player. He can play downhill, he can play in the box, he can play the deep field, he can play man-to-man. This guy is a tremendous, tremendous person and competitor.”
Saban went further, ranking Downs among the players he valued most.
“There’s only a few guys that I love more than this guy as a player on our football team, and he did a great job and improved even more in Ohio State,” Saban said.
Jones echoed that endorsement the day Dallas drafted him, calling Downs “a prize for us sitting there” and admitting the front office moved up because they didn’t want to risk losing him to another team.
Speaking with Up & Adams during training camp, Jones revisited Saban’s comments and made clear nothing about his evaluation has shifted since April.
“Nick Saban was correct,” Jones said. “This guy is one of the best players all around that any of us have seen.”
“This guy is one of the best players all around that any of us have seen.”
Jerry Jones is ALL-IN on what he’s seeing from Caleb Downs 🔥@dallascowboys | @calebdowns | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/XS16otD7z1
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 14, 2026
Jones sounds just as sold on him as Saban was. His praise lines up with what Dallas has needed on that side of the ball. With the pass rush still unsettled since the Parsons trade, the Cowboys are counting on Downs to anchor the defense under new coordinator Christian Parker, who is also happy with the rookie safety.
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