Logan Wilson, the Casper-raised University of Wyoming football star who became an NFL starting linebacker and ambassador for his home state, is once again a cowboy.
A Dallas Cowboy.
The six-year veteran of the Cincinnati Bengals was traded Tuesday to the Dallas franchise known as “America’s Team,” bringing his NFL journey full circle as he again takes on the “Cowboy” team nickname he once carried in Laramie.
Wilson has kept close ties to Wyoming, promoting the state he grew up in through social media and partnerships with Visit Casper, the tourism and marketing arm of Natrona County.
He has also remained active in philanthropic efforts. While becoming a Dallas Cowboy will likely elevate his profile and extend his influence nationally, his former high school coach said the move feels fitting.
“I think he’s just super grateful for the whole experience and the whole ride, and this is just another trip,” said state Rep. Steve Harshman, who is also Natrona County High School’s head football coach. “I think that it’s cool because you’re a Cowboy again. It’s America’s Team. That’s pretty cool.”
The Trade
The Cowboys acquired Wilson at the NFL trade deadline in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick following weeks of rumors about his diminished role with the Bengals.
Dallas, coming off a 44-24 drubbing by the Denver Broncos nine days ago, views Wilson as a key piece to help stabilize its woefully porous defense.
Wilson’s consistency — averaging more than 100 tackles per season from 2021 to 2024 — made him an attractive trade target for a team pushing to make the playoffs.
“For what we need right now, he can come in immediately and help us at linebacker,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan.
Wyoming Roots
Wilson’s legacy in Wyoming extends far beyond football.
He remains deeply connected to Casper and supporting local causes, serving on the board of the Brooks Joshua Anderson Foundation, which funds SIDS research and scholarships, and remaining a fixture at community events and fundraisers.
“I just think the biggest attraction for Logan is the kind of person he is,” Harshman told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday. “People gravitate to that and like him and appreciate him. Wherever he’s been he has been well liked and well respected, and that will continue.
“Being a great ambassador for our state and our university and our school and town here in Casper — I think that’s the biggest deal. He’s such a great ambassador not just by his play but by the type of person he is.”
Harshman said Wilson has influenced a new generation of athletes at Natrona County High.
“His example is a really good one that we have tried to get all our guys to follow,” Harshman said.
Wilson was a three-sport athlete who didn’t try to specialize too early, instead opting to compete as much as he could, Harshman said. A good student in the classroom, Wilson's leadership skills helped push multiple teams to state championships.
State Promoter
For years, Wilson has used his NFL platform to spotlight his hometown, partnering with Visit Casper to promote local tourism and share the Wyoming way of life with a national audience.
Last year, he was featured in a Visit Casper social media campaign that leveraged his large Instagram following — more than 95,000 users — to showcase his hometown.
“Fall is one of the best times of year to #VisitCasper,” Wilson wrote in an October 2024 Instagram post sponsored by Visit Casper. “With plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities to enjoy while the colors change, and indoor activities to warm up with.”
The post featured a reel of Wilson sipping pumpkin lattes at Scarlow’s Art and Coffee with his wife, Morgan, hiking along North Platte River trails, sampling beer at one of Casper’s craft breweries, getting fitted for a cowboy hat at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters, and throwing axes at Oil City Axe Co.
“I have always tried to stay true to my roots,” Wilson told Cowboy State Daily last year. “And my wife is from three and a half hours down the road in Longmont, (Colorado) so it makes sense for us to be in Casper where we can both see our families as much as possible.”
Ambassador Of Authenticity
Annette Pitts, chief executive at Visit Casper, told Cowboy State Daily that ambassadors like Wilson are invaluable because they already have large fan followings that they have already exposed to the state.
“Anytime you have somebody who has such a following, who’s so successful and so beloved like Logan, you know they bring an audience of their own,” Pitts said. “He really was exceptional in that he’s such a personable individual, and he and his wife Morgan are known for maintaining open channels with their fans.
"They often share where they’re from and celebrate Casper and Wyoming, and that certainly brings visibility for a destination like ours.”
Pitts said Wilson’s authenticity is what makes him a great state champion, and she said she expects his influence to grow as a Dallas Cowboy.
“They’re just such a beloved part of the Wyoming family,” she said. “Casper and the state of Wyoming are just so incredibly proud of Logan and what he’s accomplished — and what he’s certainly going to continue to accomplish.”
For those hometown folks in Wyoming itching to see Wilson play as a Cowboy will have to wait. Dallas has a bye week this weekend and will next play in the spotlight on Monday Night Football on Nov. 17 on the road agains the Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin George can be reached at justin@cowboystatedaily.com.
