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By Matthew Davis
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Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had a big season in 2025, which earned him a bigger contract, and he’s expecting more in 2026.
"It felt good, just knowing all my hard work paid off and I got a little bit of security," Williams recently told the Dallas Morning News. "But I've still got a lot more to prove. I at least want to go to the Pro Bowl and definitely want to get to a Super Bowl with the team.”
“Just working hard, grinding, and trying to be a better version of myself. That's all I'm worried about,” he added.
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Last season, Williams had 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns plus 35 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl despite that production, and the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs as a 7-9 team. Dallas ultimately rewarded Williams with a three-year, $24 million deal after the season.
If Williams matches or surpasses his 2025 production this year, he should make the Pro Bowl. Williams was only behind Bijan Robinson, Kyren Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and Christian McCaffrey for rushing totals among top NFC backs in 2025.
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One of those aforementioned backs could be on a Super Bowl-bound team, which could eliminate one of those four. Williams could pass Williams and Gibbs easily if the Cowboys offense can afford to run the ball more in 2026.
It also seems likely the Atlanta Falcons will want to take some pressure off Robinson to run the ball as much as he did in 2025 with 1,478 yards. Similar for McCaffrey in San Francisco after 311 carries last year.
Dallas doesn’t have a clear-cut second running back yet, and Williams’ success merits a high volume of touches regardless. The Cowboys winning more in 2026, if that happens, could keep the ball in his hands more than last year amid shootouts.
That said, Williams’ other big hope for 2026 looks much less likely. Dallas made improvements to the defense, but a Super Bowl run looks daunting for a Cowboys team that is playing in a deep NFC that could easily field multiple perennial playoff contenders in the postseason again.
The Cowboys will have a tough time surpassing the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, and it only gets tougher after that with the top teams from the NFC North and NFC West.
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