NFL Suspends Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Charles Snowden for Three Games After DUI Plea Agreement

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Charles Snowden has been suspended for the initial three games of the 2026 National Football League season, according to information released by the league's transactional wire on Tuesday.

Snowden, 28, will be ineligible to play in the Cowboys' opening game of the season on the road against the New York Giants, their subsequent home opener versus the Washington Commanders, and a further home fixture against the Baltimore Ravens.

The pass rusher will still be permitted to participate in the Cowboys’ three preseason contests. The suspension is set to commence once NFL teams finalize their 53-man rosters for the regular season.

Details of the Suspension

The league's decision follows Snowden's resolution of a 2024 DUI arrest. In January, he entered a plea agreement related to the incident.

As part of the agreement, Snowden pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. He was mandated to pay a fine of $1,000 and complete both a coroner’s course and DUI education classes.

Should Snowden successfully fulfill these stipulated requirements, the charge will be subsequently reduced to reckless driving.

Snowden's NFL Journey

Snowden joined the Dallas Cowboys during the current offseason as a free agent. His signing came after a successful tryout that led to an invitation to the team's minicamp.

Originally an undrafted free agent from the University of Virginia, Snowden first entered the NFL with the Chicago Bears in 2021. He made appearances in only two games during his tenure with the Bears and did not play in the regular seasons of 2022 or 2023.

He later played for the Las Vegas Raiders in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His most notable performance was during the 2025 season, where he recorded three sacks, 28 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, and one interception across 15 games, nine of which he started.