Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t disappeared; his role and status in the NFL have just changed a lot from his early superstar years.

Quick Scoop: What Happened to Ezekiel Elliott?

From Cowboys Star to Role Player

Ezekiel Elliott entered the league in 2016 with the Dallas Cowboys and quickly became one of the NFL’s top running backs, winning rushing titles and becoming the face of the Cowboys’ offense. Over time, his workload, efficiency, and role shrank as the league shifted toward running back committees and as his own production declined.

By the end of his first stint in Dallas, questions were already swirling on TV and YouTube about whether he was in decline or just misused, spawning titles like “What HAPPENED to Ezekiel Elliott?!” and “How Ezekiel Elliott’s Career Was Destroyed,” which framed his trajectory as a “rise and fall” story. Those pieces often pointed to heavy early usage, injuries, the wear and tear at the position, and the Cowboys’ changing offensive identity.

Second Stint in Dallas and Release

After leaving Dallas the first time, Elliott eventually returned to the Cowboys for a second stint, but it was nothing like his prime years. In that return, he was no longer the clear workhorse; he shared snaps and ultimately saw his carries, yards per carry, and overall impact drop significantly.

During the 2024 season, he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on 74 rushes with three rushing touchdowns, while adding 69 receiving yards on 12 catches across 15 games. Rico Dowdle gradually took over as the primary back, pushing Elliott into a smaller role with 20 percent or fewer offensive snaps in his final six games with Dallas.

On December 31, 2024, the Cowboys released Elliott for a second time, a quiet but symbolic end to his long, high-profile run as a Dallas star. Reports indicated the release was at his request so he could try to catch on with a playoff contender, and team owner Jerry Jones publicly addressed the move as the end of an era.

Where He Landed Next

Soon after that release, the Los Angeles Chargers moved to add him to their practice squad ahead of the playoffs. The idea was that if he could get up to speed quickly, he might contribute to a playoff push, especially with questions around the health of fellow running back Gus Edwards.

The key detail: this was a practice-squad deal, signaling that teams now see Elliott more as veteran depth than a featured back. At 29 years old, he’s in the phase of his career where running backs often transition from stars to rotational options or short-term pickups for contending teams.

So Why Did His Career Shift So Much?

Forum-style and YouTube breakdowns of “what happened” usually circle around a few themes:

  • Heavy early usage and the natural wear and tear of the running back position.
  • A league-wide trend toward cheaper, younger backs and passing-heavy offenses.
  • Declining explosiveness and efficiency compared to his first three seasons.
  • The Cowboys’ willingness to move on rather than keep paying veteran RB money.

One common fan narrative is that his “demise” was exaggerated in real time—he remained a useful player, just not the dominant force he once was. But in NFL terms, even a modest dip in efficiency for a high-cost running back can quickly push a team to move on, which is exactly what happened in Dallas—twice.

Mini TL;DR

  • Elliott was once an elite, volume-heavy Cowboys star.
  • His efficiency and role declined over the years amid league trends and personal wear.
  • The Cowboys released him again on December 31, 2024, at his request, ending his second stint there.
  • He then joined the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad to try to help in a playoff run, signaling his new status as veteran depth rather than a franchise centerpiece.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.