Dallas Cowboys All-Pro return specialist KaVontae Turpin was arrested over the weekend in Allen, a suburb north of Dallas, on charges of marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a weapon, authorities confirmed Sunday.
Police say Turpin, 28, was taken into custody Saturday. He has since been released on bond. No attorney of record has been listed, and the Cowboys have declined to comment.
Turpin, a former standout at TCU, is entering his fourth NFL season and recently inked a three-year, $18 million deal with Dallas following a breakout 2024 campaign that earned him All-Pro honors. Last season, he returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns—his first scores since joining the league.
Though Turpin has become a dynamic presence on special teams, his career path has been anything but smooth. In 2018, his time at TCU ended abruptly after a second domestic violence case involving the same woman came to light. The school dismissed him when it discovered a previous charge out of New Mexico after a separate incident in Fort Worth.
Before landing with the Cowboys in 2022, Turpin played in a number of alternative football leagues, eventually earning a roster spot with a standout preseason performance that included two return touchdowns.
While the current charges are misdemeanors and not career-threatening on their own, they could complicate matters for Turpin both legally and professionally, particularly given the NFL’s personal conduct policy and the Cowboys’ recent efforts to promote player accountability.
No further statements have been made by the team or league as of Sunday evening.
Talent opens doors, but choices keep them open. Turpin’s rise has been remarkable—climbing from football’s fringes to All-Pro status. But with a past checkered by serious off-field issues, even minor legal trouble could trigger major consequences. The hope for Turpin and the Cowboys is that this incident is a stumble, not a slide backward.
