NFL Announces Final Decision on Cowboys Incident

The Dallas Cowboys closed out their 2025 season with a disappointing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants on Jan. 4. Quarterback Dak Prescott registered 7-of-11 completed passes for 70 yards and no touchdowns before being replaced by second-year QB Joe Milton .

Jaxson Dart turned in a strong performance to lead the Giants to a win. The rookie quarterback logged 22-of-32 completed passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Dart also added 32 rushing yards on five carries, marking his fourth win as the Giants’ QB1.

Dart was involved in a contentious incident in the Week 18 matchup. He was on the receiving end of a hard hit from Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson . The NFL has completed its investigation of the incident and announced its punishment decision.

Wilson tackled Dart at the 11:55 mark of the second quarter. Dart rushed for an 8-yard gain at first-and-10 before being stopped in his tracks by Wilson. The referees did not call a foul on the play despite Wilson using his helmet to tackle the Giants QB.

The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the incident after the game. Wilson’s tackle was deemed illegal by the league, resulting in a hefty fine for the Cowboys safety. The NFL announced on Saturday via the gameday accountability report that Wilson has been fined $23,186 for unnecessary roughness .

Wilson was fined for a similar violation earlier this season. He was hit with a $23,186 penalty for impermissible use of the helmet against the Washington Commanders in Week 7. Wilson has been fined seven times throughout his career, amounting to $105,987.

The Cowboys finished their campaign with a 7-9-1 record. They lost four out of their last five games and have missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Related: Cowboys Make Coaching Moves After Missing NFL Playoffs

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.