With his 32nd birthday approaching next month, Dak Prescott is under no illusions – it’s all about hoisting the Lombardi. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback is choosing wins over his own legacy. Prescott’s individual playoff record isn’t great though—2-5. He understands the value of winning, but lo and behold, character seems to be a man more worried about his legacy than history’s judgment of him.
During the last few days of interviews in Phoenix, Prescott reiterated his focus toward leading the Cowboys back to a Super Bowl championship. “Oh, you know, I want to go win a championship,” he said bluntly. He continued in-depth, stating, “The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I’m done playing – will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. I won’t allow this to become solely focused on my legacy. It’s for my staff’s health, my own development, and my peace of mind. Sure, the legacy will pass on without further concern. I need to root deeply where my feet are planted.
As he gets set to start an impressive seventh season with the Cowboys, Prescott looked back on his career. During that stretch, he’s directed the Cowboys to five playoff appearances in as many seasons. He’s battled through plenty of adversity, perhaps most notably injuries that have cost him games in four of those seasons. Last year was an outlier even for him. He missed nine games as he had surgery to repair a severe hamstring avulsion. The Cowboys underperformed mightily, limping to a 7-10 record.
As the team gears up for training camp beginning on July 22, Prescott has successfully completed the entire offseason program without complications. He should be completely clear for contact by the first day of camp. It will be his most important step as he attempts to regain his 2018 form and help his new franchise get back to the playoffs.
Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys’ head coach, emphasized the team’s commitment to winning and the metrics that define success for Prescott. Schottenheimer spoke about the need to win. Most importantly, work ethic and the sacrifices it takes to find success is something he believes we, as a society, need to champion. Beyond that, he argued that Prescott’s influence and leadership are key, as they get set for an all important 2023 season.
In the category of longevity, Prescott really is a unicorn. He’s only third to Troy Aikman, the only quarterback in franchise history to start more games than him. It’s that he’s just really, really tired of the weight of expectations. As he fights to achieve his individual goals, he’s focused on helping the Cowboys succeed as a team.
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