Reddy Steward has already gotten over one hurdle in 2026, surviving the purge of “Matt Eberflus guys” from the Cowboys staff and roster. Re-signed this offseason, Steward hopes to impress the new defensive coaches and fight his way back onto the team for another run.
Background
Years in NFL: 2
Acquired by: Waiver claim (2025)
Undrafted out of Troy in 2024, Steward’s first NFL job came as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2024, then coached by Eberflus. He spent most of the year on their practice squad, but the Bears did call him up to play in a single game. At the end of the season, he signed a futures deal with the division-rival Vikings to compete in their offseason program. That same winter, Eberflus became the defensive coordinator in Dallas.
When the Vikings waived Steward at final cuts, his former head coach brought him to his new Cowboys defense. There was a big need as Dallas had multiple injury concerns with their corners. Steward actually started in Week 2 and played significant snaps throughout the season, becoming a key figure when DaRon Bland ended up on IR and Trevon Diggs was released.
Making sense of who played well and who didn’t on last year’s defense isn’t easy. It was chaotic and breakdowns occurred all over the field. And while he struggled along with all of his teammates, Steward at least had moments where he showed toughness and solid coverage instincts. He was a willing tackler despite being undersized, which is key for the slot role he played. It was enough that, unlike most Eberflus guys, Steward got a new contract to return in 2026 and compete for a job.