Dak Prescott Looks Ahead: “Whatever It Takes” to Get the Cowboys Back on Track in 2026
The Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 season ended not with a bang, but with a slow fade - three straight losses, a missed playoff berth, and a whole lot of what-ifs. But if you think Dak Prescott is shying away from the moment, think again.
Prescott, coming off a bounce-back year that re-established him among the league’s top quarterbacks, made it clear in Tuesday’s press conference: 2026 is personal.
“I’m going to do my damnedest,” Prescott said, speaking candidly about the team’s season and what comes next. “Controlling what I can… and maybe there’s a little bit more that I can do, and it’s not physically or me getting better at my game.”
That’s not just lip service. This is a quarterback who’s not only taking ownership of the Cowboys’ shortcomings but also stepping further into his role as a leader - not just in the huddle, but in the locker room, and even in conversations with the front office.
“As you get older, I think having more input, having more say-so and being asked more questions from the front office,” Prescott added. “Maybe it's speaking up and saying that this will help or I think this can help.”
This is the evolution of a franchise quarterback - from playmaker to tone-setter, from team captain to culture driver.
A Season of Highs, Lows, and Missed Opportunities
Prescott’s 2025 campaign was, in many ways, a redemption arc. After a hamstring injury cut his 2024 season short in Week 9, he returned with a vengeance, putting up 4,175 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions.
He also chipped in on the ground, rushing 47 times for 154 yards and two more scores. The numbers speak for themselves - Prescott was back, and he was sharp.
But while the offense found its rhythm under his command, the Cowboys' defense struggled to hold up its end of the bargain. Inconsistency on that side of the ball proved costly, especially down the stretch. Dallas dropped its final three games, and with them, their shot at the postseason.
The Cowboys now sit at 6-8-1, second in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles and ahead of the Commanders and Giants. In the broader NFC picture, they’re 11th - trailing teams like the Buccaneers and Vikings, while staying just ahead of Atlanta and New Orleans.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that showed flashes of real potential, especially on offense. But as Prescott pointed out, every season has its “highs, lows, ebbs and flows.” The key now is learning from it - and building on it.
Leadership Beyond the Field
What’s striking about Prescott’s comments isn’t just his accountability - it’s his willingness to expand his influence. He’s not just talking about throwing tighter spirals or reading defenses quicker. He’s talking about using his voice to help shape the direction of the franchise.
“Whatever it takes,” he said. “I’m going to make sure that I’m influencing and encouraging everybody else around me, not just the players, to do the same.”
That’s the kind of leadership that resonates in a locker room. That’s the kind of leadership that can change a team’s trajectory.
What’s Next for Dallas?
The Cowboys aren’t done yet - they’ve got a Christmas Day matchup on the road against the Washington Commanders. At this point, it’s about pride, evaluation, and momentum heading into the offseason.
But make no mistake: 2026 starts now. And with Prescott locked in, healthy, and more determined than ever, Dallas has a foundation to build on.
The question now is: will the rest of the organization rise to meet his challenge?
Prescott’s message was clear. The fire is still burning.
The standard hasn’t changed. And as far as he’s concerned, the work to get back to where the Cowboys want to be - and where he believes they can go - is already underway.