Friday afternoon ET, rashan gary deleted a social-media farewell to the Green Bay Packers, then removed the post amid reports the account may have been hacked. The timing matters because the post coincided with fresh trade reporting and public discussion of a roughly $28 million 2026 cap figure linked to his contract.
As of the afternoon of Friday, March 6, 2026, Gary had not been released by the Packers, even as he was widely seen as a potential cap casualty. He was projected to carry a cap hit of around $28 million in 2026 and had posted 7. 5 sacks in 2025, facts that helped set the backdrop for the deleted farewell and subsequent trade chatter.
Rashan Gary’s deleted Instagram farewell and hack claim
Gary briefly posted a goodbye message that said, in part: “When I got the call in 2019, it was one of the greatest moments of my life… Like all chapters in life, this one has come to an end. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my family throughout the years… On to my next stop — nowhere near done yet. ” He then deleted the post, and reports afterward indicated the Instagram account may have been hacked. Tom Pelissero noted there was nothing official about a release or trade at that time.
Packers-Cowboys trade reports and roster economics driving the moment
Dianna Russini wrote that the Packers are sending Gary to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2027 Day 3 pick; the exact round of that pick has not been revealed. The transaction chatter amplified because moving Gary would free cap space for the Packers, and the Cowboys were described as seeking an upgrade to their pass rush. The reporting also noted that Gary has tallied 7. 5 sacks or more in four of his seven NFL seasons.
Brian Gutekunst’s comments and Gary’s midseason production collapse
General manager Brian Gutekunst had recently discussed Gary’s value, saying the player produced pressure totals the team valued and that he expected Gary to play at that level if retained. Separate performance data highlighted the inconsistency: in Weeks 10 through 18 last season Gary recorded no sacks while 325 other players did, and he registered no tackles for loss in that span while 507 different players did. By contrast, he ranked fifth in the NFL through eight weeks with 7. 5 sacks and was tied for 11th with seven tackles for loss in that earlier stretch.
No official transaction had been confirmed as of Friday afternoon ET; an official team announcement is the next confirmed step. If a trade or release is finalized, teams are expected to make the move public and disclose details at that time.
