Andy Dalton - Part 2 (Dallas Cowboys To Carolina Panthers)

 
Photo Credit:
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/11/dallas-
cowboys-will-start-andy-dalton-if-healthy-
despite-garrett-gilberts-impressive-
debut-nfl-news-roundup.html

On May 2^nd, 2020, Dalton signed a one – year contract with the Dallas Cowboys worth $7 million dollars to be Dak Prescott’s backup for the season.⁽¹⁴³⁾

On October 11^th, 2020, Dalton replaced an injured Prescott in week 5 against the Giants.  Dalton finished with 111 passing yards as the Cowboys won 37 – 34^(144)(145).  Dalton was named the starting quarterback for the Cowboys going forward due to Prescott’s season ending injury^(146)(147).  Dalton made his first start in week 6 against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football.  During the game, Dalton threw for 266 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions during the 38 – 10 loss.⁽¹⁴⁸⁾

During a week 7 25 – 3 road loss to the Washington Football Team, Dalton suffered a concussion after a late hit by Jon Bostic^(149)(150).  On November 3^rd, 2020, Dalton was placed on the reserve / COVID – 19 list after testing positive for the virus⁽¹⁵³⁾.  Against the Vikings, Dalton threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Dalton Schultz with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Cowboys beat the Vikings on the road by a score of 31 – 28.^(154)(155).

During week 14 against his former team, the Bengals, Dalton threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns during the 30 – 7 road victory⁽¹⁵⁶⁾.  Two weeks later against the Eagles, Dalton threw for 377 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception during the 37 – 17 victory⁽¹⁵⁷⁾.  In 11 games and 9 starts, Dalton finished the season with 2,169 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions as the Cowboys finished with a 6 – 10 record.⁽¹⁵⁸⁾

Chicago Bears:

Photo Credit:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2021/9/12/
22670993/bears-rams-andy-dalton-faint-praise-justin-

fields-matt-nagy

On March 17^th, 2021, the Bears signed Dalton to a one – year contract worth $10 million dollars, and up to $13 million dollars in incentives⁽¹⁵⁹⁾.  Dalton started the first two games before suffering a knee injury⁽¹⁶⁰⁾.  He was then relegated to the backup quarterback after Justin Fields was named the starter⁽¹⁶¹⁾.  Against the Ravens in week 11, Dalton entered the game in the third quarter after Fields left the game with a rib injury.  Dalton threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears lost 13 – 16⁽¹⁶²⁾.  In the 2021 season, Dalton passed for 1,512 yards, eight touchdowns, and nine interceptions in eight games.⁽¹⁶³⁾

New Orleans Saints:

Photo Credit:

https://whodatdish.com/posts/the-saints-offense-is-

better-with-andy-dalton-at-qb-01gef675g7wd

On March 29^th, 2022, Dalton signed a one – year contract with the Saints⁽¹⁶⁴⁾.  Dalton was named the starter in the Saints’ week 4 matchup against the Vikings in London following injuries to Jameis Winston⁽¹⁶⁵⁾.  Dalton completed 20 of his 28 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown in the 28 – 25 loss⁽¹⁶⁶⁾.  In week 7 against the Cardinals, Dalton passed for 361 yards and four touchdowns but had three interceptions, including two pick – sixes, in the 42 – 34 loss⁽¹⁶⁷⁾.  After the game, head coach Dennis Allen announced that Dalton would be the starter for the remainder of the season over Winston⁽¹⁶⁸⁾.  Dalton appeared in 14 games and finished with 2,871 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions as the Saints went 7 – 10.^(169)(170)

Carolina Panthers:

Photo Credit:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/panthers-score-on-
first-drive-without-bryce-young-andy-dalton-has-
three-tds-in-first-half-vs-raiders/)

2023 season:

On March 15^th, 2023, Dalton signed a two – year contract worth up to $10 million dollars with the Panthers^{(171)(172)(173)}.  Dalton was named the starter for the team during the offseason;⁽¹⁷⁴⁾ however he was beaten out by Bryce Young, the first – overall draft pick, a few days before the preseason.⁽¹⁷⁵⁾

Dalton got his first start with the team on September 24^th, 2023, after Young went down with an injury a week prior⁽¹⁷⁶⁾.  He went on to pass for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 27 – 37 loss against the Seattle Seahawks⁽¹⁷⁷⁾.  His 58 pass attempts were the most for any quarterback in a single game during the 2023 regular season⁽¹⁷⁸⁾.  Week 3 was Dalton’s lone significant playing time in the 2023 season.⁽¹⁷⁹⁾

2024 season:

On September 16^th, 2024, after the Panthers fell to 0 – 2 and Young continued to struggle, Dalton was named the starting quarterback⁽¹⁸⁰⁾.  In his first start against the Las Vegas Raiders, Dalton threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Panthers to scores on seven of their 12 possessions as they won 36 – 22⁽¹⁸¹⁾.  On October 22^nd, Dalton and his family were involved in a car accident⁽¹⁸²⁾.  No one in the vehicle required emergency medical transport, but Dalton sustained an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand, ruling him out for the Panthers’ week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos⁽¹⁸³⁾.  Although Dalton recovered, Young remained the Panthers’ starter for the rest of the season.⁽¹⁸⁴⁾

2025 season:

On February 18^th, 2025, Dalton signed another two – year contract extension with the Panthers, making it his third season with the team.  His contract is worth $8 million dollars and has a maximum value of $10 million dollars⁽¹⁸⁵⁾.  During the Panthers week 2 preseason game against the Houston Texans, Dalton would leave late in the first quarter early due to an elbow injury sustained when he was hit by Texans linebacker Danielle Hunter.

NFL Career Statistics:

Regular Season:

Postseason:

Bengals franchise records:

• Completions: playoff game (29 on January 5th, 2014, against the Chargers), rookie season (300 in 2011)(186)
  
  
• Pass attempts: playoff game (51 on January 5th, 2014, against the Chargers), rookie season (516 in 2011)
  
  
• Passing yards: rookie season (3,398 in 2011)(187)
  
  
• Passing TD’s: rookie season (20 in 2011)(188)
  
  
• Intercepted: playoffs (6), playoff season (3 in 2011), playoff game (3 on January 7th, 2012, against the Texans
  
  
• 300+ yard passing games: season (5 in 2013, with Jow Burrow, 2021)
  
  
• 4000+ passing yard season: career (2; with Carson Palmer and Joe Burrow)(189)

Personal Life:

Dalton is a Christian.  He has spoken about his faith, saying, “Not very many people get a chance to play in the NFL.  To start – and start as a rookie – I feel so blessed.  So many things had to fall right to be where I am.  I thank God every day.”  Dalton says one of his favorite Bible verses is 1 Peter 5:6.^(190)(191)

On July 9^th, 2011, Dalton married his longtime girlfriend, Jordan Jones, whom he met at TCU.  In July 2014, Jones gave birth to the couple’s first son⁽¹⁹²⁾.  Their second son was born in March 2017⁽¹⁹³⁾.  Their third child, a daughter, was born in January 2019.⁽¹⁹⁴⁾

Dalton and his wife founded the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation, which aims to help families and children in need.  After Dalton helped the Bengals defeat the Ravens 31 – 27 in week 17 of the 2017 season, which allowed the Buffalo Bills to enter the playoffs, many Bills fans donated to his foundation in gratitude for helping their team snap their 17 – year playoff drought.  In less than a week, donations exceeded $360,000 from over 16,000 donors.  Most donations were in the amount of $17 dollars, which symbolized the 17 – year playoff drought that ended with the Bengals’ victory over the Ravens.  Dalton and his wife thanked Buffalo Bills fans by renting five billboards in the Buffalo area that read “Thank you, Buffalo, and good luck.”^{(195)(196)(197)}

He has been nicknamed the “Red Rifle”, a reference to both his throwing arm strength and his hair color.^(198)(199)

** For more NFL stats on Andy Dalton, click here:
     https://www.pro-football-reference.com/
     players/D/DaltAn00.htm

 Part three of the Andy Dalton article will be the reference
and copyright citations for the entire article which will
be posted on Tuesday October 21, 2025.