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Rashan Gary Forced Into Decision After Cowboys Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 4:49 PM ET

Rashan Gary and the Green Bay Packers didn't finish the 2025 NFL season as they would have hoped. After starting the year 9-3-1, the Packers lost their last four games, finishing with a 9-7-1 record and securing the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. And their postseason run didn't last very long, falling to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears 31-27 in the wild-card round.

Still, Gary had another impressive season during his seventh year with Green Bay. The defensive end recorded 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, doing so alongside All-Pro Micah Parsons. But during the offseason, the Packers decided it was time for a change, trading Gary to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18)© Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gary began his football career in 2011 at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in New Jersey. Ahead of his junior season, he transferred to Paramus Catholic High School, where he spent his final two seasons. During that time, he became known for sporting the No. 3 jersey. In 2016, the defensive end committed to the Michigan Wolverines, where he spent three seasons and continued to wear the same number.

After his career at Michigan, Gary was selected by the Packers with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Instead of continuing to wear No. 3, he switched to No. 52. However, upon his arrival in Dallas, Gary was forced to change his number again due to guard Tyler Booker already wearing No. 52, revealing he will sport No. 7 with the Cowboys.

With the change, Gary joins several notable players in Cowboys history to wear No. 7, including former quarterbacks Randall Cunningham, Chad Hutchinson and, for a time, Cooper Rush. Most recently, the number was worn by former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, who spent part of the 2025 season as Gary’s teammate with the Packers.

"It appears #Cowboys OLB Rashan Gary is changing his number to 7 in Dallas, per his Instagram," Cowboys staff writer Tommy Yarrish wrote on X.

It appears #Cowboys OLB Rashan Gary is changing his number to 7 in Dallas, per his Instagram. pic.twitter.com/LsdwCIAi11
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) March 26, 2026