Cowboys' Tyler Smith makes Super Bowl goal clear ahead of 2025 season

The Dallas Cowboys hit somewhat of a reset coming off a 7-10 2024 season, as the club moved on from head coach Mike McCarthy before it promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to serve as McCarthy's replacement. 

Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith made it clear when he reported for training camp this weekend that he believes Dallas can do more than just make the playoffs this coming January.

"Super Bowl champions," Smith said about his goal for the upcoming campaign, as shared by Todd Archer of ESPN. "That's always the expectation."

Dallas has routinely fallen short of that expectation over the past three decades, as the Cowboys haven't played in an NFC Championship Game since they won the Super Bowl in January 1996. Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott is responsible for a career postseason record of 2-5. Meanwhile, the previously mentioned Schottenheimer is a head coach for the first time in his career. 

As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Cowboys at +180 odds to make the playoffs this season. That's understandable for reasons that go beyond questions about the Dallas roster. 

Specifically, the Cowboys share a division with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and with a Washington Commanders team that fell to the Eagles in this year's NFC Championship Game and that believes quarterback Jayden Daniels will build upon his outstanding rookie season. 

That said, the vibes within the Cowboys seem to be high after the club acquired new No. 2 wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May. Dallas also selected guard Tyler Booker with the 12th overall pick of the 2025 draft to serve as protection for Prescott after the signal-caller suffered what became a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9 of last season. 

"I think we built a great core on offense; the addition of George and all the other key pieces," Smith added during his comments. "I think drafting Booker, he's going to be a hell of a guy just to bolster the front line. And we have many guys across the board, but those are some of the guys who are the key pieces on what we do this year."

If Prescott remains healthy and reclaims the form that made him a 2023 MVP finalist, he could help Schottenheimer silence those who criticized Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones for not hiring a big-name head coach this past winter. However, Schottenheimer potentially could become a one-and-done coach if he leaves much to be desired with his performances en route to Dallas missing the playoffs.