Leaving the Cowboys for the Ravens this offseason wasn't an easy decision for Cooper Rush, but one he felt he needed to make.
After inking a deal with Baltimore earlier this week, the 31-year-old backup penned a heartfelt message to Cowboys Nation as he heads for the Atlantic Coast. Saying, he'll always remember the seven seasons in Dallas that allowed him to make his NFL dreams come true.
"From an undrafted rookie wearing #7 to an eight year veteran wearing #10, I appreciated every moment in a Cowboys uniform," Rush posted to his Instagram page. "Thank you Dallas for all of the love that you showed to me and family. I'm excited for the next chapter but forever grateful for the first one."
Rush and the Ravens agreed on a two-year deal worth up to $12.2 million over the weekend for the Central Michigan alum to serve as the team's QB2 behind perennial MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.
"It kind of came out of nowhere, and [I] was super excited when my agent said the Ravens called," the seven-year vet told the team's official website. "Obviously, from afar there in Dallas, you see the Ravens are a well-run, good organization. Obviously, tons of success, especially recently. So, I was like, wow, OK, this is sweet. It materialized, and here we are."
Rush was 9-5 as a starter when filling in for Dak Prescott — including a 4-1 mark back in 2022 that helped keep the Cowboys' playoff hopes alive.
Baltimore has had some instability at the quarterback position in the past when Jackson wasn't available and Cooper should be a reliable option if/when No. 8 isn't available to go.
"It's really exciting to be on a good team," Rush said of signing with the back-to-back AFC North champs.
"... We had some good teams down there in Dallas, so you don't have to play out of yourself. You can play within yourself, do your job, rely on your teammates, and I think you have a similar situation here. Really good offense. Just kind of go do your job, get the ball to the fast guys, let them work, and do whatever you need to do to go win."
