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Dallas Cowboys linebacker Logan Wilson.
The Dallas Cowboys didn’t get to spend much time with linebacker Logan Wilson following a midseason trade in 2025 — it turned out that time would be Wilson’s last stretch on an NFL roster.
Wilson, 29 years old, announced he was retiring from football in a post on his official Instagram account. Wilson played the first 5 1/2 seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals before finishing with the Cowboys, and racked up almost $30 million in career earnings.
He signed a 4-year, $36 million contract extension with the Bengals before the 2023 season.
After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to officially retire from the NFL,” Wilson wrote on Wednesday. “From being a Wyoming kid with big dreams to hearing my name called in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL draft … football gave me more than I ever could have imagined.”
One thing Wilson didn’t mention in the post was his time with the Cowboys — the post had background colors of orange and black, and he signed it with black and orange heart emojis.
Wilson was released by the Cowboys on February 20 to clear $6.5 million in salary cap space.
“Logan Wilson was an integral part of two defenses that were good enough to win Super Bowls with this offense,” Locked on Bengals podcast host Jake Liscow wrote on X. “I hope retirement treats him well. They could use the next Logan Wilson!”
Cowboys Hoped Trades Would Boost Playoff Run
While Wilson had been benched by the Bengals before the trade, there was still a hope the Cowboys had brought in a difference maker when they traded for him.
“A deal for Dallas: Cowboys are finalizing a trade to acquire Bengals MLB Logan Wilson, sources tell me and Todd Archer,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on November 4. “Earlier Monday, Jerry Jones told Stephen A. Smith that the Cowboys have made a trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline. It is expected to be for Wilson, for whom the Bengals have been seeking a sixth-round pick. Wilson signed four-year $36 million extension in July 2023 that still has two years remaining on it after this season.”
The Cowboys, despite trading for Wilson and NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, still finished dead-last in the NFL in team defense, going 7-9-1 overall and missing the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season.
Logan Wilson: Elite Playmaker With Bengals
Wilson, 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, was a 2-time All-Mountain West Conference pick at the University of Wyoming before the Bengals selected him in the third round (No. 65 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.
Wilson became a full-time starter in his second season in 2021 — the same year the Bengals shocked the NFL and played in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.
From 2021 to 2024, Wilson had over 100 tackles each year, and his “difference-making” career numbers jump off the page: 12 career interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, 26 pass deflections, 19 TFL, and 18 QB hits.
Through 8 games in 2025 before the trade, Wilson has 46 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. In 7 games with the Cowboys, Wilson had 24 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection, but made just 1 start.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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