Cowboys' Dak Prescott Eyes Super Bowl, 'Be Damned If It's Just for My Legacy'

Dak Prescott's desire to win a Super Bowl has nothing to do with wanting to cement his legacy for the Dallas Cowboys.

Speaking to reporters at the end of Cowboys mandatory minicamp this week, Prescott explained he will "be damned if it's just for my legacy" when talking about why he wants to lead the team to a championship:

"Yeah, I want to win a championship. The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. Be damned if it's just for my legacy, or if it's for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity. Yeah, the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are."

One benefit and downside of being the Cowboys quarterback is the spotlight that comes with it.

Prescott has unquestionably been one of the best players at the position since entering the NFL in 2016. He ranks seventh in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns over the past nine seasons and has two top-10 MVP finishes during that span, including a runner-up finish in 2023.

However, playoff success has largely eluded Prescott to this point. The Cowboys have a 2-5 record in seven postseason games he has started. He has committed seven turnovers in those starts, with two interceptions in each of his last two games (both losses).

The Cowboys are still seeking their first trip to the NFC Championship Game since they won Super Bowl 30 during the 1995 season. They did undergo significant changes in the offseason, notably replacing Mike McCarthy with Brian Schottenheimer as head coach.

It won't be a total change for Prescott and the offense since Schottenheimer spent the past two seasons on McCarthy's staff as offensive coordinator. Prescott will also be looking to rebound after a hamstring injury limited him to eight games in 2024.

Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach and Tony Romo are the only Cowboys quarterbacks who have started more games for the franchise than Prescott (112). Aikman and Staubach had both won multiple Super Bowl titles by the time they finished their ninth seasons.

That might not be a fair standard to judge a quarterback by considering free agency as it exists today didn't start until the 1993 season, long after Staubach's career had ended and four years into Aikman's career. However, that's the expectation for the Cowboys since they are one of the league's marquee franchises.

Prescott doesn't need to care about his legacy to be motivated to win a Super Bowl, but it will be defined by that one way or another whenever his career is over.