Our picks and predictions for the 2026 NFL season
Joe Rivera, Chris Bumbaca and Adam Kaufman break down their predictions for the 2026 NFL season on the latest episode of the Sports Seriously NFL Vodcast.
Navajo Nation’s NFL debut will have to wait for another day.
The Dallas Cowboys are releasing preseason viral sensation Shiyazh Pete ahead of the NFL’s roster cut deadline, as announced on social media by his agent, Brett Tessler.
Best known for his viral speech after the Cowboys’ Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the rookie offensive lineman will look to land on another team’s 53-man roster or secure a practice squad spot. Pete became the first Navajo player to ever sign an NFL contract, meaning he still has the inside track at making history.
He was greeted warmly by the crowd in Arizona and later explained during a postgame media availability that Phoenix is home to a lot of Native America tribes. The 23-year-old University of Kentucky product took the opportunity to thank the fans for the reception.
“I just want to take a moment to thank the fans, and the people who showed up to support me, celebrate my name and wear my jersey,” Pete told reporters. “I lost count of how many Navajo Nation flags I saw. I saw a Salish Nation flag as well, which was awesome.”
In the aftermath of the game, the Cowboys shared Pete’s locker room speech on social media.
“That was an incredible win,” Pete said. “I am very fortunate to be amongst you and to play in the same field, wear the same star holding on our chest. I’m proud of us, proud of how far we’ve come. Fate brought us here as strangers, but this game, this star, this team will make us brothers.”
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer was quick to praise Pete ahead of the speech and during a postgame press conference. The rookie clearly made an impression on the coaching staff and with his teammates. While it wasn’t enough to make the initial roster, the rookie said at the time he was grateful for the opportunity.
“It’s just to show that I’m very thankful to this team,” Pete said when discussing his locker-room break down. “… It is through the Cowboys, this organization, Jerry Jones that I’m able to participate and be amongst such incredible people.”
Now it’s just a question of where the journey continues for him.