Just One Hour After Learning He's Not In 2026 Plans, 3x Pro Bowl DT Star Expresses Desire To Re-Sign With Cowboys — Willing To Take Pay Cut For Super Bowl Championship Promise

Just an hour after learning he was not in the Dallas Cowboys’ preliminary plans for the 2026 season, three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark immediately made it clear: he wants to stay and is willing to restructure his contract if necessary. Clark, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 314 pounds, has been the cornerstone of the Cowboys’ interior defensive line since being acquired from Green Bay in a blockbuster trade for two first-round picks in exchange for Micah Parsons, proving himself as one of the most feared interior defensive linemen in the NFL.

Clark, a 3-time Pro Bowler (2021–2023), has been a key driver of interior pressure, averaging 45+ tackles per season and roughly 20 QB pressures per year, helping limit opponents’ rushing efficiency. He signed a three-year, $64 million extension in 2024, with only $17.5 million guaranteed, yet he is willing to renegotiate to remain part of a Cowboys team he believes can reach the Super Bowl.

“My heart belongs to the Dallas Cowboys,” Clark said. “If there’s no way for me to continue here, I will end my career at this team, as a Cowboy, and never wear another uniform. Every effort, every play, every second I give is for Dallas, for the Super Bowl we’re still chasing.”

The Cowboys’ defense struggled at times in 2025, allowing 477 points and ranking near the bottom of the league in total yards allowed, but Clark’s impact and leadership remain undeniable. Team management, including Stephen Jones, has repeatedly expressed the desire to keep Clark, calling him a locker room cornerstone, a pressure creator, and a leader both on and off the field.

Clark’s willingness to re-sign highlights a rare professionalism, putting team legacy and success above personal gain. As the Cowboys plan roster adjustments and cap management for 2026, his declaration could shift the calculus, allowing Dallas to retain a defensive star capable of leading and making a significant impact in the trenches.

For Cowboys fans, it is a sign that despite uncertainty, loyalty and the dream of a Super Bowl remain alive at the heart of the franchise. Clark is not just fighting for a roster spot — he is fighting to keep the promise of glory that brought him to Dallas.