Terence Steele Bio
Terence Steele is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Born on June 4, 1997, in San Antonio, Texas, he played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2015 to 2019 before joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 320 pounds, Steele has developed into a long-term starter at right tackle and one of the most dependable players on the Dallas offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Terence Steele grew up in the San Antonio area of Texas and attended Byron P. Steele II High School in nearby Cibolo. At Steele High School, he lined up at left tackle and emerged as one of the more promising linemen in the region. As a senior, he served as the starting left tackle and earned All-District 25-6A honors along with first-team All-Area recognition from the San Antonio Express-News.
Coming out of high school, Steele was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 179 offensive tackle and the No. 239 overall player in Texas in his recruiting class. He chose Texas Tech over scholarship offers from Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Texas at San Antonio, citing the Red Raiders’ offensive identity as a major factor in his decision.
Path to American Football
Steele arrived at Texas Tech in 2015 and quickly adjusted to the college level. As a redshirt freshman, he played under head coach Kliff Kingsbury and earned a spot in the starting lineup at left tackle before finishing his first season at right tackle. That year, he protected future NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and helped the Red Raiders lead the nation in passing yards and total offense, performances that earned him All-Big 12 freshman team recognition.
Across his four college seasons, Steele started 47 total games and developed into one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the Big 12 Conference. He received honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors following both his junior and senior seasons. Following the 2019 campaign, he participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, two key stages on the path to professional football.
Terence Steele Career
Early Career (2020)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Terence Steele signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. His first professional season was defined by abrupt opportunity, as injuries to starting right tackle La’el Collins and backup Cameron Erving forced Steele into the lineup. He became only the fourth offensive tackle in the Super Bowl era to start at least 14 games as an undrafted rookie, finishing the year with 14 starts across 16 appearances.
The rookie campaign was a trial by fire. Steele struggled at times with pass protection early in the season, including a costly sack against the Cleveland Browns, and was briefly benched in favor of guard Zack Martin. When Collins and Erving suffered additional injuries, Steele returned to the starting role and showed steady improvement over the final month of the season, laying the groundwork for his long-term place on the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Right Tackle Breakthrough (2021-2022)
In 2021, Steele entered the season as a starter at right tackle even after La’el Collins returned from suspension, beginning the year with consecutive starts on the right side. When longtime left tackle Tyron Smith went down with an injury, Steele shifted to left tackle for three games, demonstrating the positional flexibility that has become a hallmark of his career. On December 26, 2021, against the Washington Football Team, Steele reported as an eligible receiver and caught his first NFL touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott.
The 2022 season started promisingly, with Steele starting 13 games at right tackle and continuing to grow into one of the Cowboys’ most reliable linemen. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, however, Steele suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, an injury that sent him to the Reserve/Injured list and ended his season. Jason Peters and Josh Ball stepped into the starting lineup while Steele recovered.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023-Present)
On September 3, 2023, Terence Steele signed a five-year, $86.8 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys, a deal that cemented his role as a franchise cornerstone at right tackle. He responded by starting all 17 games that season and anchoring an offense that led the league in scoring at 29.9 points per game and finished fifth in yards per game at 371.6. In a Week 10 win over the New York Giants, Steele helped Dallas produce 640 total yards, the second most in a single game in franchise history.
The 2024 season reinforced Steele’s durability and value to the Cowboys. He started all 17 regular-season games at right tackle and was the only Dallas player to take 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps on the year. His consistency up front helped running back Rico Dowdle become the first undrafted free agent in Cowboys history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Terence Steele is widely regarded as a durable, athletic offensive tackle whose strengths show up most clearly in the run game and on play-action concepts. His footwork and length allow him to mirror edge rushers, while his experience at both left and right tackle gives Dallas the flexibility to shift him around the offensive line as injuries dictate. Pairing that versatility with strong communication along the front has made him a quiet but essential piece of the Cowboys’ offensive identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Steele’s most memorable moments is his first NFL touchdown reception against Washington in 2021, a rare feat for an offensive lineman. He also played a key role in Dallas posting 640 total yards against the New York Giants in 2023 and 510 total yards in a Wild Card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers that same postseason. Through Week 17 of the 2025 season, he has appeared in 95 career games with 90 starts.
Terence Steele Career Wins
While offensive linemen are not typically credited with wins in the traditional statistical sense, Terence Steele has been part of numerous team victories and milestone performances throughout his Cowboys tenure. His contributions to record-setting offensive outputs, including the 2023 season’s league-leading scoring attack, have positioned him among the most productive right tackles in team history.
NFL Highlights
Steele has started 90 of the 95 games he has played in for the Dallas Cowboys through Week 17 of the 2025 season, a remarkable rate of availability for an offensive lineman drafted as an undrafted free agent. He caught his first career touchdown pass in 2021 against Washington and helped anchor a 2023 offense that led the NFL in scoring. His 100 percent snap share in 2024 underscored his value as an every-down player.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NFL, Steele earned All-Big 12 freshman team honors at Texas Tech and received honorable-mention All-Big 12 recognition as a junior and senior. His college career totals included 47 starts, a Senior Bowl appearance, and an NFL Scouting Combine invitation, all of which served as wins for a player who entered the league without a draft selection.
Terence Steele Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited publicly available information about Terence Steele’s immediate family or any sports lineage beyond his high school and college background. His full name and personal details outside of football have not been widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Publicly verified details about Terence Steele’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not available from the supplied sources. He is known to reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth area while playing for the Cowboys.
2025 Season Performance
Terence Steele entered the 2025 NFL season as the established starting right tackle for the Dallas Cowboys and a central figure on the offensive line. Through Week 17 of the 2025 season, he had appeared in 15 games with 14 starts, continuing his reputation as one of the most reliable linemen on the roster. His presence helped the Cowboys maintain a balanced offensive attack built around both the run game and the pass game.
As the Cowboys pushed toward the postseason, Steele’s consistency up front played a significant role in keeping the offense on schedule. His ability to play every snap at a high level allowed Dallas to avoid the kind of midseason line shuffles that had disrupted previous years. With the playoffs approaching, Steele remained a steady anchor on a roster aiming to make a deeper postseason run than the early exits of recent seasons.
Looking ahead, Steele’s five-year contract extension runs through the 2028 season, securing his place in Dallas for the foreseeable future. His blend of durability, positional flexibility, and steady play made him one of the most valuable pieces of the Cowboys’ long-term plan as the 2025 season moved into its final stretch.
