Cowboys' Dak Prescott makes bold declaration about team's future

It's easy to get the sense that Dak Prescott is just about over this 2025 season. That doesn't mean he's not going to play it out, because he wants to, but the way things have turned out for the Dallas Cowboys has been less than ideal.

They're 6-8-1 and riding a three-game losing streak with two games to go. There was a time, just a few weeks ago, in fact, when it seemed like this could potentially be a playoff team. The result of this losing streak has been the mathematical elimination of the Cowboys' playoff hopes, though.

It's disappointing for those in the building, but on Tuesday, Prescott said Dallas "won't be back here in this spot" in the future.

"I feel like the last few times I've said that were playoff losses," Prescott said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "Each year has its own troubles. Each year has its own highs, lows, ebbs and flows and everything within it. The importance is controlling what you can ... I'm going to do my [best], controlling what I can and as you get older, I think having more input, having more say so and being asked more questions from the front office. Maybe there's a little bit more that I can do, and it's not physically or me getting better at my game. Maybe it's speaking up and saying that this will help or I think this can help. Whatever it takes, once again I'm going to do my [best] and make sure that I'm influencing and encouraging everybody else around me, not just the players, to do the same."

One would think that with their playoff hopes dead, the Cowboys may want to sit Prescott while keeping an eye on his future. Keep in mind, he's under contract for the next three seasons, and he's going to be making a ton of money.

If he happens to get hurt in one of the remaining two "meaningless" games, that could impact his ability to help the Cowboys turn this thing around in 2026.

Dak Prescott wants to play this season out for the Dallas Cowboys 

Prescott was clear that he doesn't want to sit out against the Washington Commanders or New York Giants, though. In particular, the upcoming Christmas Day game against the Commanders means a lot to him.

"Particularly right now, going into this game, getting a chance to play on Christmas day, first time and also just the fact of being away from my family," he said. "I'm not trying to be away from my family if I'm not going to get to play this game and get to do something I love at a high level [and] finish a good individual season, I guess you could say, off strong ... Fifteen games under the belt, I want to make it 17."

Through 15 games, Prescott has thrown for 4,175 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions. He's second in the NFL in passing yards behind only Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. He's third amongst NFL quarterbacks in touchdowns and second in average QBR.

He's having a great season. Were he on a winning team, it would be considered an MVP-type season.

Prescott was named to his fourth Pro Bowl, but ultimately, you just know he wants more out of his career.

"My success, that accolade is 100% is shared with each and every one of those guys in there," Prescott said. "It's pretty cool to be a Pro Bowler but at the end of the day, it's not what we're going for."

He spun the Pro Bowl nod as a credit to his teammates, but at this point, you'd have to imagine that Prescott would give up those Pro Bowls for more success in the playoffs. Perhaps he'll make good on his promise in 2026.