Shiyazh Pete gets Cowboys shot as first Navajo NFL signee
Shiyazh Pete, a Navajo offensive lineman from New Mexico State, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and is fighting for a roster spot in the 2026 preseason. The 6-foot-9, 309-pound right guard is widely described as the first Navajo to sign an NFL contract, with another chance to impress against the Arizona Cardinals.
Key Takeaways
- Shiyazh Pete joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent after the NFL draft.
- The El Paso Times reports he is the first Navajo to sign with an NFL team.
- He is listed as the Cowboys’ third-team right guard and still faces long roster odds.
- Fans may see him in the Cowboys’ preseason game versus the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale.
- Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren congratulated Pete on the milestone.
Who is Shiyazh Pete and how did he reach the Cowboys?
Shiyazh Pete is a 23-year-old offensive lineman born May 23, 2003, in Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation to a Navajo mother and a father who is Navajo and Salish. He grew up in judo and did not play football until seventh grade, later starring at Shiprock High School in New Mexico after transferring as a sophomore.
COVID canceled his senior season, so he walked on at New Mexico State. After redshirting in 2022, he became a standout left tackle and helped the 2024 Aggies win 10 games, including a road win at Auburn. He transferred to Kentucky for his final season, started all 12 games, played in the Hula Bowl, then earned a free-agent deal with Dallas.
According to the El Paso Times, Pete is now shifting from his career left-tackle background toward right guard behind Tyler Booker and Trevor Keegan.
When can you watch Shiyazh Pete in the NFL preseason?
KJZZ reports Pete logged his first pro snaps in a 17-7 Cowboys win over the Seattle Seahawks and was expected to get another look when Dallas faced the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. That matchup is the next chance for TV and stadium audiences to see whether the undrafted rookie can stick.
For more game-day watch alerts and streaming notes, follow BlasterPost’s Streaming & TV Alerts hub. Pete told reporters putting on the star felt surreal, adding he still has to “earn that star” and does not yet call himself an official Cowboy.
Why does Shiyazh Pete’s Cowboys shot matter beyond football?
Pete’s path from the reservation to Oxnard training camp is framed as historic representation. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said Pete “represents more than football,” citing where he comes from, the work it took, and the pride of the Navajo people.
In a 600 ESPN El Paso interview from camp, Pete said Las Cruces treated him well and that New Mexico State is “a crimson banner I will wear for a lifetime.” He called the NFL chance a privilege and proof that hard work pays off. Dallas currently lists him third on the right-guard depth chart; the team is expected to keep five or six interior linemen on a roughly 10-man line, with nine interior linemen already on the roster—so every preseason snap still matters.