Countdown to the season opener: Day 81 Amari Cooper

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 81) with some Cowboys history

We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.

Today – number 81.

Amari Cooper

Born: June 17, 1994. Miami, Florida
Position: Wide receiver
Dallas Cowboys: 2018–2021
Awards: Pro Bowl– 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023

Amari Cooper played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 2018 to 2021 after being acquired in a midseason trade from the Oakland Raiders when the “wide receiver by committee” approach by Jason Garrett failed. His arrival immediately transformed the Cowboys’ offense, providing quarterback Dak Prescott with a true number one target, and boy was he a target.

Cooper brought elite route-running, quickness, and reliable hands, helping lead Dallas to the playoffs in his first year with the team, something that surprised everyone since the offense was struggling until his arrival. During his four years in Dallas, he registered three 1,000-yard seasons and played a key role in revitalizing the passing game under head coaches Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy. When Dallas drafted CeeDee Lamb in 2020, it was Cooper that was quick to help Lamb learn the intricacies of route running and the pair were spotted often talking routes and concepts.

Cooper would later be traded to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth round pick. This didn’t just infuriate fans because of such a low-value pick, but also due to the fact that Cooper was a fan favorite for saving the offense during his time in Dallas. The trade to Cleveland and low-value pick exchange was partly because of his contract, but also because of behind-the-scenes locker room issues according to sources.

Cooper left Dallas with career highs and racked up 3,893 receiving yards, 69.5 yards per game, 192 first downs, and 27 touchdowns. Dallas would be his most productive time playing in the NFL, and some fans even wanted to bring him back for the 2025 season.

Best known for:
Cooper was best known for his precise route-running and clutch performances, most notably a three-touchdown, 217-yard game against the Eagles in 2018 that helped solidify the Cowboys’ playoff push.

Lesser known fact:
Despite being soft-spoken and reserved off the field, Cooper is an avid chess player and often credited the game with helping sharpen his mental focus and decision-making as a wide receiver. He would often duel Cowboys players in the locker room and prove his mental agility by consistently being impossible to defeat.