Cowboys Release Reddy Steward After 5 Starts Last Season

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are releasing defensive back Reddy Steward, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday.

Dallas has to be at 53 players by 5 p.m. CT. The Cowboys had to move 37 players off the 90-man roster to reach the limit.

Steward has fewer than four accrued seasons, so he goes to waivers rather than free agency. Claims are due at noon CT Monday. Players who clear can then sign to a 16-man practice squad.

Steward signed his exclusive rights tender in March. He had been with Dallas since Aug. 27 of last year, when the Cowboys claimed him off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings.

Reddy Steward’s 2025 Season With The Dallas Cowboys

In 2025, he appeared in 17 games, starting five, with 519 defensive snaps, 46.88% of the team’s total, and 82 on special teams. Only DaRon Bland had more snaps (746). Steward tallied 40 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

Most of that work occurred in the slot. Steward started 2025 on special teams and moved to defense after Bland’s injury. Dallas started him at slot cornerback in Week 5 against the New York Jets.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer previewed the role in September at The Star in Frisco.

“You’re going to see Reddy Steward play a lot of football,” Schottenheimer said.

During this summer’s training camp, Steward transitioned from nickel to safety and has experience playing outside cornerback and on special teams over two seasons in Dallas. On Wednesday, Schottenheimer highlighted him as a player the Cowboys valued when finalizing the roster.

Dallas rebuilt its position group this offseason, adding Cobie Durant with slot experience and drafting Devin Moore.

Reddy Steward’s Path From Troy To The NFL

Steward went undrafted out of Troy in 2024 and signed with the Chicago Bears. He mainly spent his rookie year on the practice squad and played in one game.

That summer ended the way this one has. Steward intercepted two passes during Chicago’s 2024 preseason finale, returning one 48 yards for a touchdown. He was waived on Aug. 27 but later re-signed to the practice squad. That season, he also forced a fumble in Week 9.

He signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota on Jan. 16, 2025, but the Vikings waived him on Aug. 24 that year.

At Troy, Steward played five seasons, with 181 tackles, 42 pass breakups, and nine interceptions. He was first-team All-Sun Belt in 2022 and 2023. In his final college season, he had 50 tackles and four interceptions.

Steward is 25 years old. He wore No. 27 in Dallas and is listed at 5-foot-11, 178 pounds.

Dallas opens the regular season Sept. 13 at the New York Giants.