Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescottis entering his 10th NFL season with a clear message: he's not chasing legacy, he's chasing a championship.
Now 31, Prescott is well aware of the scrutiny that comes with leading one of the NFL's most visible franchises.
Yet despite his accolades and status as one of the highest-paid players in the league, questions still follow him. His postseason record remains underwhelming at 2-5, and the Cowboys haven't made it past the Divisional Round since 1995.
Prescott, however, says his motivation is rooted in something deeper than personal accolades.
"I want to win a championship. The legacy and things and whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself," he told reporters on Thursday.
"I'll be damned if it's just for my legacy or for this team or for my personal being, for my sanity. The legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are."
The comments, intended as a testament to his focus, sparked mixed reactions from fans and analysts. While some praised his mentality, others used the moment to reignite debates about his salary and postseason struggles.
"Maybe he should've taken a discount if he cared about winning," one fan posted on X. "Lower the cap hit so other players could get paid."
Another wrote, "Dak is world-class at the mic. It's on the field where he needs to be more consistently better."
Pressure builds with new weapons and high expectations
Prescott's regular-season success-three division titles and two Pro Bowl selections-has not translated to playoff dominance.
Despite leading Dallas to 12-win seasons in 2022 and 2023, back-to-back playoff exits have only amplified criticism.
Some fans were quick to point out his tenure lacks the kind of postseason milestones most elite quarterbacks reach.
"Can you name another QB starter given 10 seasons without sniffing a conference championship or Super Bowl and only 2 playoff wins? I'll wait," one commenter noted.
Still, Prescott remains committed to the team's vision for 2025. After undergoing hamstring surgery last season that limited him to just eight games (1,978 yards, 11 TDs, 8 INTs), he's been a full participant in offseason workouts.
Part of the buzz surrounding the Cowboys' camp comes from their newest addition: wide receiver George Pickens.
Acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens arrives with questions about his character, but Prescott isn't buying into the skepticism.
"The guy, he's been great, he's been phenomenal," Prescott said. "He's a guy that loves football, loves his teammates... No concerns on the personal matters of GP... He's one of us."
Prescott emphasized the importance of building chemistry, praising Pickens for arriving early and integrating smoothly with the team. With CeeDee Lamb already a proven star, Dallas hopes the Pickens-Lamb pairing gives Prescott the tools to take the offense to another level.
As the 2025 season nears, the pressure is unmistakable. With a $60 million-per-year contract and a decade-long résumé that has yet to include a deep playoff run, Prescott knows the spotlight isn't going anywhere. But he's not backing down from it.
"If there's one thing I can control, it's how I prepare and how I lead," he said earlier this spring. "Everything else? That comes with the territory."
Whether that approach can finally deliver a Super Bowl remains to be seen. For now, Prescott's eyes are on the field-not the legacy talk.
