Lirim Hajrullahu signs with Dallas Cowboys
Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu has agreed to sign with the Dallas Cowboys and will compete with undrafted rookie Jonathan Gariby for the starting job.
Hajrullahu played with Dallas for one game in the 2021-22 season after starting kicker Greg Zuerlein tested positive for COVID-19. In his only appearance, he made all five extra-point attempts in a 43-3 rout against the Atlanta Falcons. Dallas did not kick one field goal that game. The Cowboys released him on November 23.
The 32-year-old had two other stints with Dallas last year. He spent five days in training camp in place of injured punter/kicker Hunter Niswander. Hajrullahu played in a preseason matchup against the Texans. He stuck around on the practice squad for a week after starting kicker Greg Zuerlein struggled against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers in their season-opening loss.
The former CFL all-star finished the 2021-22 campaign with the Carolina Panthers and played the season’s final three games. In his Carolina stint, he made four field goals in five attempts and converted all three extra-point opportunities. The Panthers waived Hajrullahu on May 4.
Dallas released former starting kicker Greg Zuerlein in March after a disappointing season. The veteran missed a career-high six extra points last year. The Cowboys cleared $2.25 million in cap space following Zuerlein’s release.
The Cowboys signed the undrafted Jonathan Garibay to fill in the kicker position going into OTAs and training camp. In college, Garibay made 15 of his 16 field goal attempts in 2021 and earned first-team All-Big 12. The 22-year-old booted the longest field goal in the FBS last year, legging a game-winning 62-yarder for Texas Tech.
Training camp begins July 27, and the job to replace Greg Zuerlein will be determined over the course of the preseason.
