Wide receiver Michael Gallup, now a free agent, has joined the Washington Commanders, the team announced. Next season, he’ll be on the receiving end of passes from Jayden Daniels, who just won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Gallup spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, starting 67 games. Now, for the first time in his career, he’ll play for a different team—and he’ll get to face his old squad twice a year as a new NFC East rival.
Michael Gallup’s Early Life And Career
Growing up in Monroe, Georgia, Michael Gallup played multiple sports in high school before focusing on football. He started as a quarterback in a triple-option offense but switched to wide receiver and running back in his senior year, racking up over 1,100 total yards and 17 touchdowns while helping his team reach the second round of the playoffs.
To improve his grades, he attended Butler Community College, where he led the team with 780 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman. His sophomore season was cut short due to an ankle injury. Gallup then transferred to Colorado State University in 2016, where he had a breakout junior season with 76 receptions for 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns.
In 2017, he became a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, setting a school record with 100 catches for 1,413 yards and seven touchdowns. By the end of his college career, he ranked among the best in school history, holding records for receptions, touchdowns, and single-game performances.
NFL Career
Michael Gallup was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He showed early promise, recording 507 receiving yards as a rookie and surpassing 1,000 yards in 2019. Despite injuries, he remained a key target, contributing to the Cowboys’ offense alongside Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.
In 2021, Gallup suffered a torn ACL, leading to a seven-game absence. The Cowboys re-signed him to a five-year, $62.5 million deal in 2022, hoping he would return to form. However, his production declined, and he fell behind other receivers in the depth chart. After a disappointing 2023 season, he was released in a salary-cap move in 2024.
Gallup signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders but never played for them, announcing his retirement on July 23, 2024, at 28 years old.
Gallup’s Return To NFL
After briefly stepping away from the game, Gallup made a surprising career move by securing a one-year deal with a new franchise. Rather than reuniting with his former team, he took an unexpected route, joining a fierce NFC East rival. This bold decision signals a fresh chapter, driven by the desire to redefine his legacy and prove that setbacks don’t dictate the future.
His arrival injects new energy into his new team’s receiving corps, bringing valuable experience and a knack for making clutch plays. Determined to rise above past struggles, he enters the season with renewed focus, eager to carve out a significant role. Gallup’s journey is a testament to the resilience and the unpredictable twists of professional sports, where every comeback presents both obstacles and possibilities.
