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Dez Bryant

Bryant with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015

No. 88

Position:

Wide receiver

Personal information

Born:

November 4, 1988 (age 36)
Galveston, Texas, U.S.

Height:

6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight:

220 lb (100 kg)

Career information

High school:

Lufkin (Lufkin, Texas)

College:

Oklahoma State (2007–2009)

NFL Draft:

2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24

Career history

Dallas Cowboys (2010–2017)
New Orleans Saints (2018)*
Baltimore Ravens (2020)

Career highlights and awards

First-team All-Pro (2014)
3× Pro Bowl (2013, 2014, 2016)
NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2014)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2010)
Consensus All-American (2008)
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (2008)
First-team All-Big 12 (2008)

Career NFL statistics

Receptions:	537
Receiving yards:	7,506
Yards per reception:	14.0
Receiving touchdowns:	75

Player stats at PFR

Desmond Demond Bryant (born November 4, 1988) is a former American professional football wide receiver. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. Most of his career was with the Dallas Cowboys.

Bryant played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He was recognized as an All-American in 2008. He was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Cowboys, he earned three Pro Bowl selections. He was also named an All-Pro in 2014.

After eight seasons with the Cowboys, Bryant joined the New Orleans Saints in 2018. However, he suffered a serious injury soon after signing. After a year away, Bryant signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. He played as a backup and was part of their practice squad and active team.

Early Life and High School Football

Desmond Demond Bryant was born in Galveston, Texas, on November 4, 1988. His family later moved to Lufkin, Texas. There, he attended Lufkin High School. He played high school football for the Panthers team.

As a junior, he caught 48 passes for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryant helped Lufkin achieve a 14–1 record. They reached the state semifinals. In his senior year, Bryant had 53 catches for over 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named an All-State player. Lufkin finished that season with an 11–1 record. Bryant was also recognized as an All-American by Parade and SuperPrep.

Bryant was also a talented track and field athlete. He was one of the best in the state at the triple jump. He also competed in hurdling events and was part of relay teams.

Joining College Football

Many top college football programs wanted Bryant to play for them. Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit. He was considered one of the best wide receiver prospects in 2007. Bryant visited Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. He decided to commit to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in January 2007.

College Football Career

Bryant played for Oklahoma State University from 2007 to 2009. He was coached by Mike Gundy.

2007 Season Highlights

Bryant made his college debut in September 2007. He caught his first college touchdown pass against Texas Tech. Later that season, he set a school record for receiving yards by a freshman. This was during a game against Kansas. In the 2007 Insight Bowl, he had nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. As a freshman, he finished with 43 catches for 622 yards and six touchdowns.

2008 Season Highlights

The 2008 season was outstanding for Bryant. Against Houston, he had nine catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown on a punt return. He continued to have multiple touchdown games against Troy and Texas A&M. Against Iowa State, he had nine catches for 171 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the 2008 season with 87 catches for 1,480 yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. He also scored two touchdowns from punt returns.

2009 Season and Suspension

Bryant was considered one of the best wide receivers in 2009. He was even a possible candidate for the Heisman Trophy. However, he was ruled ineligible for most of the 2009 season. This was due to violating an NCAA rule. He had not fully shared details about his interactions with former NFL player Deion Sanders with the NCAA. In the three games he played, he had 323 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, and one punt return touchdown.

College Statistics

Oklahoma State Cowboys
Season	GP	Receiving				Punt Returns				Kick Returns
Season	GP	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD
2007	12	43	622	14.5	6	2	15	7.5	0	0	0	0.0	0
2008	13	87	1,480	17.0	19	17	305	17.9	2	4	100	25.0	0
2009	3	17	323	19.0	4	3	111	37.0	1	2	43	21.5	0
Career	28	147	2,425	16.5	29	22	431	19.6	3	6	143	23.8	0

College Awards and Honors

2007 Second-team freshman All-America (Rivals)
2008 First-team All-America by AFCA-Coaches, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly, Sports Illustrated

Professional Football Career

NFL Draft Selection

On November 5, 2009, Dez Bryant announced he would enter the 2010 NFL draft. Many believed he was the best wide receiver available. The Dallas Cowboys traded up in the draft to select Bryant. They moved from the 27th pick to the 24th pick to get him.

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand size	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press	Wonderlic
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	34 in (0.86 m)	9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m)	4.52 s	1.53 s	2.51 s	4.46 s	7.10 s	38 in (0.97 m)	11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)	14 reps	16
All values from Oklahoma State Pro Day

Dallas Cowboys Years

2010 Rookie Season

Bryant at training camp in 2010

The Cowboys signed Bryant to a five-year contract on July 22, 2010. He was given the number 88 jersey. This number was famously worn by Cowboys legends Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson.

Dez Bryant in a 2010 game against the Houston Texans

Bryant made his NFL debut on September 12, 2010. He had eight catches, setting a team record for a player's first game. In his second game, he scored a touchdown on a punt return. On October 17, Bryant caught his first NFL touchdown pass from Tony Romo. Later that month, he scored two receiving touchdowns and a 93-yard punt return touchdown in one game. This made him the youngest wide receiver in Cowboys history to score three touchdowns in a single game.

Bryant's rookie season ended early due to a fractured ankle. He finished with 45 catches for 561 yards and six receiving touchdowns. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for 2010.

2011 Season

In 2011, Bryant became a starting wide receiver for the Cowboys. He finished the season with 63 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns. He also helped with punt returns.

2012 Season

Bryant had a strong 2012 season. He caught his first two touchdowns of the season in Week 6. In Week 16, he had his best game yet with nine catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He tied a team record by scoring a touchdown in seven straight games. His 224 receiving yards were the fourth most in Cowboys history for a single game at that time.

Bryant ended the 2012 season with 92 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. He set a team record for most games in a season with multiple receiving touchdowns. He played through a finger injury and a back injury that season. Other players ranked him 35th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.

2013 Season

In 2013, Bryant continued to be a key player. He had several games with over 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdowns. He finished the season with career highs of 93 catches and 13 touchdowns. He also had 1,233 receiving yards. Bryant was selected for his first Pro Bowl. He was ranked 25th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.

2014 Season: All-Pro Year

Bryant signing autographs at the 2014 Pro Bowl

The 2014 season was Bryant's most successful. He caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and led the NFL with 16 touchdowns. This broke Terrell Owens' team record of 15 touchdown catches. Because of his great performance, he was chosen for his second Pro Bowl and named first-team All-Pro.

The Cowboys had a strong season, finishing with a 12–4 record. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. In the playoffs, Bryant played against the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys won 24–20. In the next game, the Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers. This game included a controversial play where a catch by Bryant was overturned. He was ranked 15th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.

2015 Season and Injuries

Dez Bryant in Landover in 2015

In July 2015, Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Cowboys. However, he suffered a foot injury in the first game of the season. This required surgery and kept him out for several weeks. He returned later in the season but struggled with the injury. He finished the 2015 season with 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He had more surgeries on his foot and ankle in January 2016. He was ranked 51st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

2016 Season

Bryant with the Cowboys in 2016

In 2016, Bryant played with a new starting quarterback, Dak Prescott. Bryant suffered a hairline fracture in his knee early in the season, causing him to miss time. He returned in Week 8. He finished the season with 50 catches for 796 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games.

The Cowboys had a great season, finishing 13–3 and winning their division. In the playoffs, Bryant had a strong game against the Green Bay Packers. He caught nine passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career. He was ranked 60th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

2017 Season and Departure

Bryant being covered by Josh Norman in a game against the Washington Redskins

Bryant started the 2017 season well, scoring touchdowns in four of the first six games. He sprained his ankle in Week 9.

Bryant and Prescott in Landover in 2017

In November 2017, Bryant passed Bob Hayes to set a new Cowboys franchise record for career receiving touchdowns. He played all 16 games that season, recording 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns. The Cowboys finished 9–7 and missed the playoffs. The Cowboys released Bryant on April 13, 2018, after eight seasons with the team.

New Orleans Saints (2018)

On November 7, 2018, Bryant agreed to a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. However, just two days later, he tore his Achilles tendon during practice. This serious injury ended his season before he could play a single game for the Saints. He was placed on injured reserve.

2019 Season Break

In October 2019, Bryant stated he was focusing on rehabilitation and training. He did not plan to retire and wanted to return to football. However, he did not sign with a team that year.

Baltimore Ravens (2020)

On October 27, 2020, Bryant signed with the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad. He was moved to the active roster for some games. Against the Tennessee Titans, he recorded his first catch since 2017. He finished that game with four catches for 28 yards. He was promoted to the active roster in November.

Before a game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant tested positive for COVID-19 and could not play. In Week 15, Bryant caught an 11-yard touchdown pass. This was his first touchdown since 2017. He scored another touchdown the next week. He finished the 2020 regular season with six catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing					Returning					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2010	DAL	12	2	45	561	12.5	46	6	1	0	0.0	0	0	27	508	18.8	93T	2	1	1
2011	DAL	15	13	63	928	14.7	50T	9	1	5	5.0	5	0	18	158	8.8	26	0	3	1
2012	DAL	16	14	92	1,382	15.0	85T	12	2	−5	−2.5	6	0	12	66	5.5	44	0	5	2
2013	DAL	16	16	93	1,233	13.3	79	13	1	1	1.0	1	0	—	—	—	—	—	3	1
2014	DAL	16	16	88	1,320	15.0	68T	16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
2015	DAL	9	9	31	401	12.9	51	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
2016	DAL	13	13	50	796	15.9	56	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1
2017	DAL	16	16	69	838	12.1	50	6	1	−4	−4.0	−4	0	—	—	—	—	—	1	1
2018	NO	0	0	did not play due to injury
2020	BAL	6	0	6	47	7.8	16	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
Career		119	99	537	7,506	14.0	85T	75	6	−3	−0.5	6	0	57	732	12.8	93T	2	14	7

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing					Returning					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2014	DAL	2	2	7	86	14.3	43	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	0
2016	DAL	1	1	9	132	14.7	40T	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
2018	NO	0	0	did not play due to injury
2020	BAL	2	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0
Career		5	3	16	218	14.5	43	2	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	1	0

Cowboys Franchise Records

Most receiving touchdowns, career: 73
Most games with at least two receiving touchdowns, single season: (4) (twice, in 2012 and 2014)
Most games with at least two receiving touchdowns, career: (15) (tied with Bob Hayes)
Consecutive games with a receiving touchdown: (7) (tied with Terrell Owens, Bob Hayes, and Frank Clarke)

Personal Life

Dez Bryant has two sons, Zayne and Dez Jr. In March 2013, Bryant spoke at an event for Dallas Men Against Abuse. He stated, "I'm done with domestic abuse." On August 28, 2014, Bryant launched his official brand and apparel line, ThrowUpTheX.