Meeting the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, is impactful for any new player, and rookie Caleb Downs was no exception.

During his recent appearance on the St. Brown podcast, the former Alabama Crimson Tide safety spoke about his NFL journey and his first impression of meeting ‘the icon of the NFL world’.

“It was awesome, honestly,” Downs said. “It reminded me of when you walked into Coach [Nick] Saban’s office during recruitment, like, Oh my goodness. This is a legend, right? And then you meet him... So he has so much wisdom and everything to learn from.”

Downs said that talking with Jones reminded him of Nick Saban, the legendary former Alabama head coach, under whom Downs began his collegiate career. 

The comparison is significant given Saban coached Downs during his final season at Alabama in 2023. Afterwards, Downs transferred to Ohio State for 2024-2025.

Downs made his highest tackle record under Saban, recording 107 tackles (70 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and four passes defended in 2023.

Downs quickly earned praise from Saban for being one of the most complete players and 'the smartest defensive backs' he has ever coached.

Jones has also been vocal about his excitement over selecting Downs as their first-round pick. He called Downs ‘the quarterback of the defense,’ drawing comparisons between him and quarterback Dak Prescott for their command and natural authority. 

“He was just talking [with his sister]," Jones said, via Jon Machota. "Reminds me of Dak. He does. He’s a pied piper.” 

Having interacted with them closely, Downs feels that both have accomplished a lot through their wisdom and leadership, making the comparison more meaningful for the rookie.

NFL Analyst Identifies Biggest Obstacle for Caleb Downs

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes that Caleb Downs' position as a safety might be the biggest hurdle for him in earning the Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.

"A safety hasn't won this award in 35 years," Gagnon wrote. "Yes, Downs will likely contribute outside that position, but we've already mentioned that corners don't often win it either—and it would be an even more difficult case in the slot."

It was last won by the Chicago Bears' Mark Carrier.

And as Gagnon noted, it would be a tough competition for Downs to win against linebackers, who have dominated in the past three years.

If Downs could help in boosting the Cowboys' defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league last season, he could be the top contender for the award.

What are your thoughts on rookie Caleb Downs first meeting with owner Jerry Jones? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey