Ezekiel Elliott jersey number: Why Cowboys' RB is wearing No. 15, not 21, in second stint with Dallas

Ezekiel Elliott is ready to resume his place as RB1 with the Cowboys in 2024.

Elliott is returning to Dallas after a one-year stint in New England, going back to the franchise that drafted him No. 4 overall in 2016. The Cowboys signed the eight-year veteran to a one-year, $3 million contract this offseason.

With last year's starting running back Tony Pollard taking his talents to the Titans in free agency, Elliott is in line to handle the majority of snaps out of Dallas' backfield.

He'll have a different look than he did in the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys, though. Find out why below.

Why did Ezekiel Elliott change his number?

Elliott wore No. 21 in his first seven NFL seasons with the Cowboys, but he switched to No. 15 with the Patriots last year.

Elliott will stick with No. 15 in Dallas instead of going back to his old jersey number. Why No. 15? That was the number Elliott wore in college when he dominated at Ohio State.

Backup quarterback Trey Lance switched his jersey to No. 19 to allow Zeke to wear No. 15.

Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State stats

No. 15 has looked pretty good on Elliott in the past. He tallied just shy of 4,000 rushing yards in three seasons, collecting 43 touchdowns while donning that jersey number at Ohio State.

Elliott's success led to the Cowboys taking the star running back No. 4 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Ezekiel Elliott NFL stats

There is no denying that Elliott's best years came while rocking No. 21 in Dallas, but the veteran RB was still solid with the Patriots wearing No. 15 last season.

In 2023, Elliott had 184 carries for 642 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. Perhaps even more impressive was his 51 receptions, his highest total since 2020. He proved he can still handle every-down work after starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson went down with an injury late in the season.