Former Wroclaw Panther KaVontae Turpin set to become highest paid special teams player in NFL history
The Dallas Cowboys re-signed standout kick returner KaVontae Turpin to an $18 million, three-year contract.
Turpin returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns last season on his way to his first All-Pro selection. The Cowboys said on their website the deal could make Turpin the highest-paid special teams player in NFL history.
The 28-year-old Turpin joined the Cowboys in 2022 after making a splash in the USFL and the European League of Football. The former TCU standout essentially made the New Jersey Generals by returning a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the same preseason game as a rookie.
Turpin played four games with Poland’s Wroclaw Panthers in 2021 amassing 702 all-purpose yards during that time. The speedy receiver had a monster game against the Hamburg Sea Devils where he racked up 293 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
He has steadily become more involved as a receiver in the Dallas offense. He caught three touchdown passes and ran for a score in 2023 before finishing with a career-high 420 yards receiving with two TDs last season.
In fact, since joining the Cowboys in 2022, the small but speedy receiver has put up 2,274 yards and 2 touchdowns as a kick and punt returner. On offense he’s recorded 44 catches for 556 yards and five touchdowns. Turpin has even played several games as a part time running back rushing for one touchdown and 219 yards.
