Mike McCarthy talking to reportersMike McCarthy (Photo via NFL_DovKleiman/Twitter)

Ezekiel Elliott is back for a second stint with the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy had a lot to say about Zeke coming back.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said it’s almost as if Elliott, who was with the team from 2016 to 2022, never left.

This resulted in some strange moments and flashbacks for McCarthy.

McCarthy opted to speak about the 28-year-old’s old-school tendencies in the locker room.

“He definitely puts you on guard. He’s an old-school guy. He’ll go up and smack a 60-year-old man in the ass, and it hurts.

“It’s those kinds of things that you just enjoy him — not that I enjoy getting smacked in the ass – but you enjoy his personality.”

Fans were perplexed by what Mike McCarthy said about Ezekiel Elliott:

Ezekiel Elliott was picked in the first round by the Cowboys in 2016 and has had multiple successful seasons. Elliott finished third in MVP voting as a rookie, after leading the league in yards. The 2018 season was just as successful, with the most rushing yards in the NFL.

He was released by the Cowboys in 2023 and signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots. After a down campaign, he is now headed back to his original team.

The Dallas Cowboys sorely needs him as they lost Tony Pollard in the offseason to the Tennessee Titans and they did not take a running back in the NFL Draft.

Elliott, on the other hand, may have had a greater impact on his colleagues, as he was a strong presence and someone who people admired. His bond with quarterback Dak Prescott is well documented, and the quarterback is overjoyed to have one of his closest friends back.

Ezekiel Elliott Finished With Career-Low In Yards During 2023 Season

Elliott is returning to Dallas after one season with the New England Patriots, where he finished with career lows across the board.

It was arguably his worst year statistically, with career lows in rushing yards (642), rushing touchdowns (3), yards per carry (3.5), rushing yards per game (37.8), and success rate (45.1%), per Wikipedia.