Eric Kendricks pivots from 49ers, agrees to terms with Cowboys

linebacker Eric Kendrickswho earlier on Wednesday agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ershas decided instead to join the Dallas Cowboys.

On Thursday, the Cowboys announced they had reached an agreement with Kendricks. His deal with Dallas is for one year, sources told ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who coached Kendricks with the Minnesota Vikings From 2015 to 2021, he wanted the former Pro Bowl selection to help run his defense and Kendricks also preferred to play in Dallas, sources told Schefter.

Cowboys had big hole to fill at linebacker after using converted safety Mark Quese Bell in that place after losing Leighton Vander Esch during the season to a neck injury and DeMarvion exaggerated to a knee injury in training camp. Vander Esch is expected to retire in the coming weeks, but with Kendricks, they have someone who knows Zimmer’s scheme and is credited with over 100 tackles in all but one season in his nine-year career.

A captain of the team that finished second in the Chargers With 117 tackles last season, Kendricks was released by Los Angeles as a salary cap casualty on March 5 after joining the team on a two-year, $13.25 million contract before the 2023 season. The Chargers saved $6.5 million with the release. by Kendricks.

The linebacker had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023.

Kendricks, a 2015 second-round pick, played eight seasons for the Vikings before being released after the 2022 offseason. He had a team-leading 137 tackles with Minnesota in 2022, starting all 17 games.

He was selected to his only Pro Bowl in 2019, when he was also selected to the All-Pro first team. For his career, Kendricks has 1,036 tackles and 18.5 sacks in 132 games (127 starts).

ESPN’s Kris Rhim contributed to this report.