JB #31

Josh Butler

Cornerback · Michigan State

A hometown Mesquite kid who took the long road through the USFL to make it with the Cowboys.

Josh Butler's path to the Cowboys ran through Michigan State, a stint with The Spring League, and a season starting for the USFL's Michigan Panthers before Dallas gave him a shot. The Mesquite, Texas native finally got on the field for his hometown team in 2024, only to have his breakout cut short by a torn ACL.

★ First player in Cowboys history with 3+ passes defended and a sack in a single game

★ Started all 11 games for the USFL's Michigan Panthers in 2023

★ Signed a reserve/future contract with his hometown Cowboys

Path to the league

Butler played at Michigan State from 2015 to 2019, working through injuries to finish with 54 tackles, one sack and five passes defended across 43 games. He went undrafted in 2020, then kept his career alive through The Spring League before starting all 11 games for the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2023, which led directly to Dallas signing him.

Career highlights

Dallas signed Butler to its preseason roster in July 2023 and kept him around on the practice squad before signing him to a reserve/future contract in January 2024. He was promoted to the Cowboys' active roster in November 2024 and quickly made an impact, recording three passes defended and a sack in a win over Washington, a stat line that made him the first player in franchise history to record those numbers in a single game.

2025 season recap

Butler's 2024 breakout ended abruptly when he tore his ACL in a Thanksgiving game against the Giants after totaling 21 tackles, five pass deflections and a sack in five games. The injury limited his availability into 2025 as he worked his way back, and in March 2026 the Cowboys tendered him to a one-year contract to keep him on the roster.