Cook scored his first two rushing touchdowns of the season in Week 1 of the 2020 season a 43–34 loss to the Packers. During Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, Cook finished with a career-high 181 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Vikings lost 30–31. In the following game, he had 27 carries for 130 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 31–23 victory over the Houston Texans. In Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Cook recorded 89 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown before leaving the game due to an adductor strain. Without Cook, the Vikings lost the game 27–26. During Week 8 against the Packers, Cook finished with 163 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns as the Vikings won 28–22. He became the first Vikings player to score four times in a single game since Ahmad Rashad did so against the 49ers on September 2, 1979. On November 4, 2020, Cook was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 8. In Week 9, Cook rushed for a career-high 206 yards on 22 carries and had two rushing touchdowns in the 34–20 victory over the Lions. He became only the third player in Vikings franchise history to record 200 rushing yards in a single game, joining Adrian Peterson and Chuck Foreman. Cook was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 9. In Week 11 against the Cowboys, Cook rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown and recorded 45 receiving yards during the 31–28 loss. Cook was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for his performance in November. In Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cook recorded 120 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards during the 27–24 overtime win. In Week 15 against the Chicago Bears, Cook recorded 159 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown during the 33–27 loss.
Born in Opa-locka, Florida, Cook attended Miami Central High School, the same as former Seminole running back Devonta Freeman. His brother is former basketball player Deandre Burnett. Cook did not join the football program until his sophomore year, figuring he had no chance to supplant senior running back Devonta Freeman, who led Central to a Class 6A state title in 2010. Cook played as a running back and defensive back under coach Telly Lockette. In his junior year, he shared carries with Joseph Yearby, who is his best friend. On running downs, Yearby played wildcat quarterback and Cook lined up at running back. As a senior in 2013, Cook rushed for a county-best 1,940 yards and 34 touchdowns on 177 carries (11.0 yards per rush) and intercepted three passes on defense. In Central's Class 6A regional final win against Palm Bay Heritage, Cook ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns as Yearby fractured his fibula in the first quarter of the game. From that point on, Cook led his team to the Class 6A state championship by rushing for 223 yards and four touchdowns in a 52–7 win over Seffner Armwood, helping the Rockets win their third state championship in the past four seasons and become the first Dade team to advance to four consecutive state finals. For his season efforts, Cook was named Mr. Florida Football by the Florida Dairy Farmers Association, becoming the third recipient of the award since its inception (back in 1992) from Miami-Dade County, joining former Miami Northwestern quarterback Jacory Harris and former Miami Norland running back Duke Johnson.
Dalvin James Cook (born August 10, 1995) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning unanimous All-American honors and finishing his career as the school's all-time leading rusher. Cook was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, and in six seasons with the team, he earned Pro Bowl honors four times. He is the elder brother of Buffalo Bills running back James Cook.
Cook split carries with Karlos Williams and Mario Pender as a true freshman in 2014. In his first game against The Citadel, he rushed 67 yards with one touchdown. He rushed for 100 yards for the first time in his college career against Syracuse, gaining 122 yards over 23 carries with a touchdown. Cook was named the MVP of the 2014 ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech after earning a career-high 177 yards on 31 carries and one rushing touchdown. Overall, in the 2014 season, he finished with 1,008 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, and 203 receiving yards.
Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Cook was ranked as the second best all-purpose back in his class. Before he signed with Florida State in January 2014, he had already taken the summer and night classes necessary to graduate high school early and enroll in the spring. Cook originally committed to Clemson University, then flipped to the University of Florida under coach Will Muschamp in the spring of 2013. However, after Florida's 4–8 season that year, the 5-star running back began wavering on his pledge—privately. Despite officially visiting other schools, Cook claimed he was "100 percent" committed to the University of Florida in every interview. During the week of the Under Armour All-America Game, he did the Gator Chomp on social media and posed for a pictures with Florida commits after one of the practices. On January 1, 2014, Cook flipped to Florida State University.
In July 2015, Cook was suspended after he was charged with battery following an incident outside a bar. The following month, he was found not guilty and reinstated by Florida State. He started the season off strong with 156 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown against Texas State. In the next game, against South Florida, he had 266 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. On October 10, against the Miami Hurricanes, he had 222 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 47 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to help the Seminoles to a 5–0 record. During the team's tenth game, which was against NC State, Cook broke Warrick Dunn's Florida State single-season rushing yards record of 1,242. In the annual rivalry game against the Florida Gators, he had 183 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Overall, he finished the 2015 season with 1,691 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, 24 receptions, 244 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown.
Cook started the 2016 season with 91 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards in a victory over Ole Miss. On September 24, against South Florida, he had 267 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 62 receiving yards. In the next game, against North Carolina, he had 140 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 106 yards. On November 19, 2016, during the first quarter of the team's game against the Syracuse Orange, Cook broke Warrick Dunn's career rushing record of 3,959 yards. Cook entered the game just 18 yards behind the record and finished with 225 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He finished his career with 4,464 rushing yards. A few hours after winning the Orange Bowl against Michigan, Cook announced he would forgo his senior season at Florida State in order to enter the 2017 NFL draft.
In his first NFL game against the New Orleans Saints, Cook set the Vikings' rookie debut rushing record, previously held by Adrian Peterson by rushing for 127 yards on 22 carries. In Week 3, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had 27 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown to go along with five receptions for 72 yards. During Week 4 against the Detroit Lions, Cook left the game with an apparent knee injury. The next day, it was revealed that Cook suffered a torn ACL, and it prematurely ended his rookie season. He was officially placed on injured reserve on October 5, 2017. In four games in his rookie year, Cook finished with 354 rushing yards. On October 9, 2017, Cook underwent successful repair of the left ACL. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews noted no further damage of the left knee with "100 percent" chance of return for the 2018 season.
On June 8, 2020, Cook revealed his intent to forgo participation in team-related activities until a "reasonable extension" is agreed upon. On September 12, 2020, Cook signed a five-year, $63 million contract extension with the Vikings.
On November 9, 2021, Cook was accused of assault, battery, and false imprisonment to his former girlfriend causing a concussion in November 2020, an allegation which he denies. He stated that "only the truth will come out", in response to those allegations.
On June 9, 2023, the Vikings announced that they had released Cook after he declined to take a pay cut.
Cook is the older brother of Bills running back James Cook. He is father of a son named Dalvin Cook Jr. with his high school girlfriend, Jacquilla Morris. In August 2023, Dalvin welcomed his second son with Instagram influencer Neri J.
Cook signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets on August 15, 2023. He appeared in 15 games and made one start for the Jets, but his playing time was severely hampered by lead RB Breece Hall. He totaled 67 carries for 214 rushing yards. After 17 weeks, Cook and the Jets mutually agreed to part ways on January 2, 2024.
After going unclaimed on waivers, Cook signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on January 4, 2024. He was signed to the active roster on January 18. He made his team debut in the Ravens' Divisional Round 34-10 win over the Houston Texans, rushing the ball eight times for 23 yards, including a 19-yard run on his first carry.