Cowboys Eyeing Unretired Safety with Family Ties

Nasir Adderley, cousin of former Cowboys great Herb Adderley, could reunite with Dallas coach Derrick Ansley.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 5:31am

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The NFL could send the Cowboys to Seattle to kick off 2026 against the reigning Super Bowl champions, and a safety who's unretiring has Dallas connections. Nasir Adderley, a former second-round draft pick who spent four years with the Chargers and then retired after the 2022 season, has announced his intent to return to the NFL. The Cowboys, who are coincidentally thin in the secondary, just happen to have his onetime position coach in the newly-hired Derrick Ansley. Adderley's cousin Herb Adderley also played for the Cowboys in the 1970s and won a Super Bowl with the team.

Why it matters

The potential signing of Nasir Adderley would provide the Cowboys with much-needed secondary depth and a player with strong family ties to the franchise. Additionally, the possibility of the Cowboys opening the 2026 season against the reigning Super Bowl champions in Seattle would be a high-profile matchup to kick off the new season.

The details

Nasir Adderley, a former second-round pick of the Chargers, retired after the 2022 season but has now announced his intent to return to the NFL. The Cowboys, who have a need at safety, recently hired Derrick Ansley, Adderley's former position coach. Adderley's cousin is Herb Adderley, a Cowboys player in the 1970s who won a Super Bowl with the team. The NFL is also considering sending the Cowboys to Seattle to face the reigning Super Bowl champions in the 2026 season opener.

  • Nasir Adderley retired after the 2022 NFL season.
  • Nasir Adderley announced his intent to return to the NFL in 2026.
  • The Cowboys hired Derrick Ansley, Nasir Adderley's former position coach, in 2026.

The players

Nasir Adderley

A former second-round draft pick who spent four years with the Chargers before retiring after the 2022 season, Adderley has now announced his intent to return to the NFL.

Herb Adderley

Nasir Adderley's cousin, Herb Adderley played for the Cowboys in the 1970s and won a Super Bowl with the team.

Derrick Ansley

The Cowboys' newly-hired coach, Ansley was previously Nasir Adderley's position coach.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The NFL will determine the Cowboys' 2026 season opener opponent and location in the coming months.

The takeaway

The potential signing of Nasir Adderley, with his family ties to the Cowboys, could provide a boost to the team's secondary. Additionally, the possibility of the Cowboys opening the 2026 season against the reigning Super Bowl champions in Seattle would be a high-profile matchup to kick off the new season.