Dallas Cowboys release defensive end Takk McKinley

The Dallas Cowboys released pass rusher Takk McKinley on Friday afternoon, according to Nick Harris of Cowboys digital media. McKinley was signed to the Cowboys practice squad in November of 2022, but won’t make it to training camp this fall.

The former first-round draft pick out of UCLA joined Dallas on a one-year deal in mid-November. The team actually re-signed him in late March, but it appears the Cowboys decided to part ways with him after a few months.

Though McKinley made the active roster once during the 2022 season, he didn’t see action in a game. He spent most of last season with the L.A. Rams. They released him in October after notching one tackle in four game appearances.

Prior to his time with the Rams, McKinley spent one season with the Cleveland Browns. He signed a one-year deal for $4.5 million and wound up playing 11 games with 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

The most productive period of the defender’s career came in the first years he spent with the Atlanta Falcons. After they selected him at No. 26 overall in 2017, he went on to record two seasons with six and seven sacks apiece.

So far in his six years in the league, McKinley has 98 regular season tackles with 20 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. His deal with Dallas for 2022 was for $277,200.

Takk McKinley has a fascinating story

Growing up, McKinley was raised by his grandmother, and he grew up in the Richmond neighborhood of the San Francisco Bay area. When he was drafted by the Falcons in the 2017 NFL Draft, he had one of the more famous entrances to the stage in recent memory, when he held up a picture of his late grandmother.

He made a promise to his grandmother that he’d make it to Division I-A football right before she passed away in 2011. Life was never easy for him growing up and he often slept on the floor. So much so, that when he had a visit to the Cal Golden Bears, McKinley overslept on his recruiting visit because he hadn’t slept on a bed in months, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

His story is quite fascinating and worth the read.

During his final two seasons of high school for the John F. Kennedy Eagles (Richmond, California), the gifted defensive end racked up 26 sacks–showcasing his dominant ability as one of the nation’s elite pass rushers.

McKinley originally committed to the California Golden Bears but ran into academic issues and was ruled as a non-qualifier. Then, he suited up one year for Contra Costa College in 2013, racking up 33 tackles and 10 sacks, once again displaying his elite pedigree in getting after the quarterback.

In September of 2014, he transferred to the UCLA Bruins, finishing his sophomore season with 2.5 sacks. As a junior during the 2015 season, he tallied 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 13 games of action. Then, his senior year, he enjoyed a breakout season, racking up 10 sacks and earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this article.