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Cowboys Legend Defends Dak Prescott After Tough NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ankit K. | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 3:17 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys faced another frustrating season in 2025-26, finishing 7-9-1, but franchise legend Emmitt Smith has stepped forward to defend Dak Prescott. After missing the playoffs again, criticism has grown around the quarterback despite strong individual numbers.

Speaking on 105.3 The FAN, Smith made it clear that Prescott remains a winning-caliber player. He brought Prescott’s durability into focus. After returning from a major injury in 2024, he started all 17 games and delivered one of his most productive seasons.

Smith believes that as long as Prescott stays healthy, he can continue performing at a high level for years.

"I think as long as he stays healthy, he can play just as long as any other quarterback that you have out there right now," Smith said. "And I think he can be as effective as he's always been. He's always been effective."

Smith pointed to the quarterback’s consistency and production.

"Last year, the guy was a top-five quarterback," Smith said. "Nobody wants to talk about that, but everybody wants to talk about, "Well, he's a top-five quarterback, but he hasn't made the playoffs." All that is not on him."

.@EmmittSmith22 on Dak Prescott:

"Last year, the guy was a top-5 QB. ... When you have a sorry-ass defense like we had last year, & you have Dak putting up the numbers he put up, all that is not on him. If the defense improved 20%, we win a little bit more & make the playoffs" pic.twitter.com/rtzzt1wurZ
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) April 8, 2026

Prescott threw for over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, continuing to build on a career that began as a fourth-round pick in 2016.

The former Cowboys star believes the blame lies elsewhere. He highlighted the team’s defensive struggles, calling them the main reason behind the disappointing record. Dallas allowed over 30 points per game, one of the worst marks in the league, which placed constant pressure on the offense.

"When you have a [expletive] defense like we had last year… let's be honest with each other," Smith said. "When you have a sorry defense like we had last year, and you have Dak putting up the numbers that he put up last year, and you have a running back here running the way he ran last year, and you got a kicker.

"You don't have a defense. Defense wins championships. Defense will get you into the playoffs."

Smith argued that even a small improvement on defense could have changed the season.

"What I just said was, if the defense improved 20% of what they were last year, we win a little bit more games, and we make the playoffs, I believe," Smith said. "And we might be able to make a difference in the playoffs."

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up at MetLife Stadium.Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Despite the criticism, Prescott has become one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in franchise history. He now holds the Cowboys’ all-time passing yards record, passing Tony Romo.

Dallas now enters another offseason with questions about balance and roster construction. And as Smith mentioned, the Cowboys’ problems may run deeper than their quarterback, and Prescott might still be their best answer moving forward.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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