Gallup comes out of retirement to join Commanders

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup has come out of retirement to sign with the Washington Commanders, the franchise announced Thursday.

Gallup has been out of the NFL since last offseason when he elected to walk away after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old also reportedly visited the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week before joining the Commanders.

The 2018 third-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career with the Cowboys. Gallup's best work came five years ago when he set career highs in receptions (66), receiving yards (1,107), and touchdowns (six). The 2019 campaign is the only year he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards.

Gallup said Thursday that the transition from leaving the Cowboys was difficult to process and that he knew when he retired that he would want to return to playing, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

He'll reunite in Washington with head coach Dan Quinn, who was on the Cowboys' staff as defensive coordinator from 2021-23.

The former Cowboys wideout had 34 receptions, 418 yards, and two touchdowns in 2023.

Gallup is the second notable receiver to join the Commanders this offseason following their acquisition of former San Francisco 49ers star Deebo Samuel. Terry McLaurin headlines Washington's receiver room, which also features Luke McCaffrey, Noah Brown, and K.J. Osborn, among others.