Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper's retirement was a stunner for most involved, as it was thought that his Las Vegas Raiders tenure would be a successful one. He obviously didn't feel comfortable continuing with the new-look offense, though it wasn't expected that he'd turn the tides and hang up the cleats this early in his career.
Still just 31 years old, Cooper isn't far removed from effective play. Although the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons away in a baffling move, this may be the most stunning transactional move of Dallas' summer.
Though there was no hope of Cooper returning to the Cowboys this summer, his retirement opens the door to a return to the Lone Star State in a new role.
Former Cowboys WR Amari Cooper's Retirement Opens the Door for Dallas Return
As announced by the NFL's official X account, Cooper retired at age 31 despite originally signing on to play with the Raiders at the end of August. This could be viewed as a representation of his health, though it also could be an indication that he didn't want to play for head coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas.
With his playing days behind him, it'll be interesting to see if Cooper remains involved in football. Cooper was a downfield threat throughout his time with the Cowboys, and Dallas wouldn't mind him passing that experience down to quarterback Dak Prescott's current WR arsenal.
It's wildly unlikely and foolish to even speculate about, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that Cooper rejoins Dallas as a coach. Beleaguered owner Jerry Jones has brought players back in the past, with Jason Garrett, Kellen Moore, and Leon Lett being some of the names who coached in the Lone Star State after previously playing for America's Team.
We can look at New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel as one of the NFL's latest examples of players-turned-coaches, and he's found success. Perhaps Cooper can find that same level of inspiration whether he's on the field or not.
There's no reason for Cooper to have retired aside from injury or ineffectiveness, and he's occasionally effective at times. Cooper has seven seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards, and even tallied a career-high 1,250 yards in 2023, establishing himself as an elite red zone option when the play breaks down. That's exactly the type of experience Dallas would love to add to the coaching staff.
And who knows? Perhaps the Cowboys can convince him to come out of retirement for one final run as a player before joining the coaching ranks.
George Pickens is a fantastic addition, but he's no Cooper. For new head coach Brian Schottenheimer's new-look group to be effective, it makes sense to take as many shots on goal as possible. Dallas hasn't yet, and it's just the latest example of Jones' incompetence. To put it lightly, he's a clown regarding roster-building strategy, and letting Cooper go for a minimal return is the most recent example.
Parting ways with Cooper was a big mistake, and bringing him back to Dallas would help right that wrong.