Former Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott returned to AT&T Stadium for the first time as a visitor Sunday, but he might as well have been a member of the home team thanks to the support he got from his former organization and their fans.
The Cowboys played a moving tribute video prior to kickoff to honor Elliott. The one-minute video included highlights of Elliott on and off the field from his time with Dallas.
During and at the completion of the video, Elliott was shown on the jumbotron and was given a rousing ovation from fans in attendance, which of course, included "Zeeeke" chants.
Elliott responded with a wave to the crowd and his patented "feed me" celebration.
Elliott, who was drafted by the Cowboys with the No. 4 overall pick out of Ohio State in 2016, was a two-time NFL rushing leader, All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler while playing the first seven seasons of his career in Dallas.
Elliott has the third most rushing yards in Cowboys' franchise history (8,262) behind Tony Dorsett (12,036) and Emmitt Smith (17,162) and the third most touchdowns in team history (80) behind Dorsett (86) and Smith (164).
Those numbers, combined with Elliott's impact in the locker room and off the field, makes him a consideration for the Cowboys Ring of Honor, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan.
"I do. Yes I do. I sure do," Jones said when asked by the K&C Masterpiece if he viewed Elliott as worthy of a future Ring of Honor induction. "It's what he did for the team. Frankly, I thought he was very influential in the image of the Cowboys. And I mean that positively. Away from the field or as to the field as it was perceived with our fans. Just the entertainment of the Cowboys. To me, I look to that when I think about the Ring of Honor. Not only, what he did with stats on the field, not only what he did as a punishing runner, but also what he did to lift the franchise. ... Zeke lifted the whole franchise."