Trevon Diggs’ Nightmare Playoff Moment With Packers Reinforces Cowboys’ Decision to Move On

Trevon Diggs’ time with the Green Bay Packers may be remembered as one of the shortest—and most troubling—chapters of his NFL career. What was supposed to be a late-season opportunity for redemption instead became a brutal reminder of why the Dallas Cowboys ultimately chose to cut ties with the once-promising cornerback.

Diggs’ playoff debut with Green Bay lasted exactly one snap, and that lone moment told a story the Cowboys had already come to accept.

From Shocking Release to Sudden Playoff Opportunity

When the Cowboys waived Trevon Diggs on December 30, the move sent shockwaves through the league. Just a few years removed from being one of the NFL’s most dangerous ball-hawking defensive backs, Diggs’ fall from grace was swift and public.

The Packers, still alive in the playoff race, claimed him the very next day. On paper, it looked like a low-risk, high-upside move. Green Bay hoped Diggs could rediscover his playmaking instincts and provide depth to a secondary preparing for postseason football.

Those hopes were short-lived.

Diggs appeared sparingly in Green Bay’s regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, logging just 33 snaps. Still, optimism lingered that the former Pro Bowler could contribute when the games mattered most.

Instead, his Wild Card appearance against the Chicago Bears became an instant cautionary tale.

One Snap, One Breakdown, One Last Chance Gone

Diggs entered the playoff game for one defensive snap—and it couldn’t have gone worse.

On that play, he was beaten cleanly in coverage, allowing a significant gain that immediately exposed the same issues that plagued him throughout the season. Poor positioning, slow reaction, and an inability to recover once beaten turned the snap into a glaring liability.

That was it.

Diggs never returned to the field.

The Packers’ coaching staff made a decisive call, choosing to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the game. In the unforgiving environment of playoff football, there was no room for hesitation—and no appetite for risk.

Packers’ Collapse Adds Context, But Not Excuse

Green Bay’s playoff loss itself was dramatic. The Packers surged to a 21–3 halftime lead, appearing in full control before everything unraveled in the second half. Chicago outscored them 28–6 after the break, capitalizing on turnovers, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities.

Jordan Love’s final Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete, ending Green Bay’s season in stunning fashion.

Diggs was not responsible for the collapse—but his absence after one snap was telling. In a game where defensive reliability was paramount, the Packers clearly did not trust him to be part of the solution.

The Numbers That Told the Cowboys the Truth

Diggs’ playoff disappearance was not an isolated incident. It was the continuation of a troubling trend that had already played out in Dallas.

During his final season with the Cowboys, Diggs posted career-worst coverage metrics, including:

• 154.2 passer rating allowed when targeted

• 75.0% completion rate allowed

• Consistent struggles against route discipline and double moves

According to Pro Football Reference, quarterbacks routinely attacked Diggs in coverage—and were rewarded for it. What was once a high-risk, high-reward style tilted sharply toward risk with diminishing returns.

The Cowboys didn’t just see declining stats—they saw a defender whose mistakes outweighed his splash plays.

From All-Pro Potential to Sudden Decline

Just a few seasons ago, Diggs was considered one of the NFL’s most exciting young defensive backs.

In 2021, he led the league with 11 interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl selection and helping power Dallas to a 12-win season and an NFC East title. He followed that with another Pro Bowl nod in 2022, cementing his reputation as a game-changing defender.

But since then, the trajectory has been unmistakably downward.

Injuries disrupted his development. Confidence wavered. Quarterbacks stopped fearing him and began targeting him. The interceptions disappeared, while the coverage breakdowns multiplied.

By late 2025, the Cowboys no longer viewed Diggs as a cornerstone—he had become a liability.

Cowboys Look Vindicated by Packers Experience

Watching Diggs struggle to earn even a rotational role in Green Bay has only reinforced the Cowboys’ decision to move on.

Dallas opted for certainty over nostalgia. Rather than clinging to past production, they chose to reset, trusting that Diggs’ best football was no longer ahead of him in their system.

The Packers’ unwillingness to give Diggs a second snap in a must-win game echoed that evaluation.

For Dallas, it was validation.

What Comes Next for Trevon Diggs?

At just 26 years old, Diggs is not finished in the NFL—but his margin for error has vanished.

Any future opportunity will likely come with strict conditions:

• Limited role

• Strong coaching structure

• Minimal tolerance for mistakes

Teams with established defensive cultures—such as the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, or Houston Texans—could consider taking a low-cost gamble on his raw talent. But after his Packers stint, no team will hand him meaningful snaps without proof of reliability.

Diggs must rebuild trust before he can rebuild his reputation.

A Harsh Lesson in the NFL’s Reality

The league moves fast. Past accolades offer no protection when current performance falters.

Trevon Diggs’ one-snap playoff moment with the Packers was not just unfortunate—it was symbolic. It represented how quickly opportunity disappears when confidence erodes and mistakes persist.

For the Packers, it was a brief experiment that ended immediately.

For the Cowboys, it was confirmation they made the right call.

And for Diggs, it was a stark reminder that in the NFL, reputation fades—but film lasts forever.