James Cook

James Cook Bio

James Dalvin Cook III is an American professional football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 25, 1999, in Miami, Florida, Cook played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. He has quickly become a key offensive contributor for Buffalo, posting multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons and earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

Cook is also notable for being the younger brother of NFL running back Dalvin Cook. After taking over as Buffalo’s lead tailback in 2023, he produced one of the most productive stretches by a Bills running back in decades, eventually winning the NFL rushing title in 2025.

Early Life and Background

James Dalvin Cook III grew up in Miami, Florida, and attended Miami Central Senior High School in West Little River. As a freshman, he rushed for 709 yards and eight touchdowns on 99 carries, showing early signs of the speed and finishing ability that would define his career. After his freshman year, he took extra courses and reclassified as a junior, a move that allowed him to graduate earlier than his original class.

As a senior at Miami Central, Cook rushed for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns on 91 carries, finishing his high school career with 2,019 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. He was a highly rated recruit and originally committed to Florida State, where his older brother Dalvin was playing, before decommitting during the summer before his senior year. After also considering offers from Louisville and Florida, Cook signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia and finished high school as a four-star recruit, transferring to Miami Northwestern Senior High School for his final semester.

Path to Professional Football

Cook arrived at the University of Georgia in 2018 as part of a talented recruiting class and worked his way into the Bulldogs’ rotation from the start. As a freshman, he played in 13 games, gaining 284 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns while adding eight receptions for 89 yards. He continued to contribute on offense in each of his next three seasons, serving as a versatile running back and receiver out of the backfield.

In his senior season of 2021, Cook rushed for 728 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns as Georgia won the College Football Playoff National Championship. He led the Bulldogs in receiving during the Orange Bowl semifinal against Michigan, finishing that game with 112 yards and a touchdown on four receptions in a 34–11 victory. After the title run, Cook declared for the 2022 NFL draft, where he was projected as a dynamic complementary back with starting upside.

James Cook Career

Early Career (2022 Season)

Cook was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round, 63rd overall, of the 2022 NFL draft and made his professional debut in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. His first career carry ended with a fumble, and he spent much of his rookie season working in a rotational role. He scored his first professional touchdown during Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a 24-yard rush in a 38–3 victory and recorded 105 scrimmage yards in a Week 13 win over the New England Patriots.

Cook finished his rookie year with 89 carries for 507 yards and two rushing touchdowns, adding 21 receptions for 180 yards and a receiving touchdown across 16 games without a start. He scored a rushing touchdown in the Wild Card Round victory over the Miami Dolphins, gaining postseason experience that would shape his second season.

Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2023 Season)

Cook became Buffalo’s primary running back for the 2023 season after previous starter Devin Singletary left for the Houston Texans in free agency. Against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15, he set career highs in several categories, including 25 rush attempts, 179 rushing yards, 221 scrimmage yards, and two total touchdowns in a 31–10 win, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The following week against the Los Angeles Chargers, he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season, becoming the first Bills running back to reach that mark since LeSean McCoy in 2017.

Cook finished his second professional season with 237 carries for 1,122 yards and two rushing touchdowns, adding 44 receptions for 445 yards and four receiving touchdowns in 17 games and 13 starts. He logged at least 100 scrimmage yards in eight games and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Buffalo Bills Era (2024 Season)

Cook opened the 2024 season strongly with two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He continued to produce big games throughout the year, including 133 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8 and another 133 scrimmage yards with two rushing touchdowns in a 48–42 road win over the Detroit Lions in Week 15. The next week, he added 126 scrimmage yards, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in a 24–21 win over the New England Patriots.

For the season, Cook rushed for 16 touchdowns, tying the franchise record set by O. J. Simpson in 1975. He also tied Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs for the 2024 NFL rushing touchdowns lead and earned his second Pro Bowl selection. In the Wild Card Round win over the Denver Broncos, he ran 23 times for 120 yards and a touchdown, and in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs he posted 134 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in a narrow 32–29 loss.

Buffalo Bills Era (2025 Season)

On August 13, 2025, Cook and the Bills agreed on a four-year, $48 million contract extension after a short holdout from practice. He opened the season on a historic run, surpassing 100 total yards and scoring a rushing touchdown in each of the first four games, all wins, which earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors. In Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, he set a new career high with 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a 40–9 victory.

Against the Cleveland Browns on December 21, Cook passed 1,500 rushing yards for the season, the third-best total by a Bills running back in franchise history and the most since O. J. Simpson in 1975. He earned his third straight Pro Bowl selection and won the NFL rushing title, becoming the first Bills player to lead the league in rushing since 1976.

Driving Style and Strengths

Cook is an explosive, one-cut runner whose speed shows up most clearly on outside-zone and stretch plays where he can press the line and burst through the second level. His receiving skills make him a true dual-threat back, and he has developed into a reliable option on screen passes, swing routes, and flat patterns. Within Buffalo’s offense, his ability to handle a heavy workload as both a runner and a pass catcher has allowed the Bills to feature the run game as a central part of their offensive identity.

Notable Events and Milestones

Cook’s most memorable individual performances include his 216-yard, two-touchdown game against the Panthers in 2025, his 179-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Cowboys in 2023, and his tying of O. J. Simpson’s long-standing franchise record with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He also played a key role in the Bills’ 2024 postseason wins and reached the AFC Championship Game that year.

James Cook Career Wins

Across his first four NFL seasons, James Cook has built a strong resume of individual awards and postseason victories as a central piece of the Buffalo Bills’ offense. His three straight Pro Bowl selections, a 2025 second-team All-Pro honor, and his 2024 and 2025 NFL statistical titles reflect his consistent production at the running back position.

Buffalo Bills Highlights

Cook has been a steady contributor in the Bills’ backfield since his rookie year, when he scored a rushing touchdown in Buffalo’s Wild Card Round win over the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, he added 120 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card Round victory over the Denver Broncos and posted 134 scrimmage yards with two rushing touchdowns in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2025, he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,621, becoming the first Bills player to win the rushing title since 1976.

Other Performances

At the collegiate level, Cook was part of Georgia’s 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship team and recorded 112 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Orange Bowl semifinal win over Michigan. He was also a CFP national champion that season, an achievement that highlighted his development as a pass-catching back at the college level.

James Cook Family

Family Background and Football Lineage

James Cook comes from a football family and is the younger brother of former NFL running back Dalvin Cook. His brother was already a star at Florida State when James was in high school, and that connection initially helped guide him toward a college career in Tallahassee before he chose Georgia instead.

Personal Life

Cook grew up in Miami and remains closely tied to his family and to his brother Dalvin, who has been a guiding presence throughout his football journey. He has continued to spend time in the Miami area while building his professional career in Buffalo.

2025 Season Performance

Cook’s 2025 season has been the most productive of his career and a defining stretch for the Buffalo Bills offense. After agreeing to a four-year, $48 million contract extension in August, he opened the year with four straight games of at least 100 total yards and a rushing touchdown, all Bills victories, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors. His Week 8 explosion for 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Carolina cemented his status as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

By mid-December, Cook had already surpassed 1,500 rushing yards for the season, the most by a Bills running back since O. J. Simpson in 1975 and the third-best single-season total in franchise history. He added a third consecutive Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod, and he clinched the NFL rushing title with 1,621 rushing yards, the first Bills player to lead the league in rushing since 1976.

Cook’s late-season form has given Buffalo a balanced offensive identity heading into the postseason, with the run game now complementing the passing attack rather than serving as a secondary option. With multiple years remaining on his contract extension, his continued development suggests the Bills’ offense will continue to feature him as a central building block for seasons to come.