IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys signed Bradie James on Tuesday so the veteran linebacker could retire with the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.

James played for the Cowboys from 2003-11 before joining the Houston Texans in 2012. He did not play last season.

James started all but three games from 2005-11 at inside linebacker and led the Cowboys in tackles in a six-year span, topping out at 202 in 2008. He also had eight sacks in 2008. He is the sixth-leading tackler in franchise history after Darren Woodson, Lee Roy Jordan, Randy White, Dexter Coakley and Ed “Too Tall” Jones.

The Cowboys made a similar ceremonial move with Marc Colombo in 2012. On hand for the announcement was former teammate Akin Ayodele.