Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith recently made waves by stating that it is always expected the Cowboys will finish the season as Super Bowl champions. Addressing reporters at training camp on Thursday, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott delivered a firm response to Smith’s remarks, emphasizing the team’s united commitment to their championship ambitions. Prescott made it clear that anyone in the locker room who doubts their ability to win the Super Bowl should consider their place on the team.
“If [Smith] doesn’t believe it, or anybody in that locker room doesn’t don’t believe it, then I would ask him to get out,”
Prescott said, as shared by Clarence Hill of All City DLLS (h/t Pro Football Talk).
“[First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer] said it day one we showed up. If you don’t want to win the Super Bowl, don’t think we can win a Super Bowl, then don’t come to [training camp] and you’re in the wrong place.”
Historical Hurdles and Prescott’s Self-Reflection
The Cowboys have not advanced to a conference championship game since their last Super Bowl victory in January 1996. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott carries a career postseason record of 2-5, reflecting mixed success in playoff performances. Earlier this week, Prescott openly acknowledged that he has not always risen to the occasion when it mattered most for the team during critical moments of the season.
Despite this, Prescott remains committed to the franchise’s lofty goals, emphasizing the high standards expected of every player who wears the Cowboys’ star. He credited head coach Brian Schottenheimer for embracing those expectations openly and setting a demanding tone from the start.
“We know the standard when you wear the star,”
Prescott continued.
“We know the expectations. And I credit [Schottenheimer] for not shying away from it. I don’t think anybody’s ever heard me shy away from it. So it’s just making sure everybody understands that. We have to think that. We have to manifest that. I appreciate Tyler for saying it and believing it.”
Prescott’s Motivation Beyond Individual Accolades
Though emerging as a 2023 MVP finalist, Prescott downplayed the significance of his personal accomplishments, underscoring that success means little without a Super Bowl victory. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook placed the Cowboys with +180 odds to make the playoffs this season, reflecting measured expectations from the betting world.
Prescott spoke passionately about what drives him throughout this summer and beyond—winning a Super Bowl and the joy that comes with it. He emphasized how deeply connected the entire locker room is in striving for the ultimate goal, fueled by their new head coach’s hunger and determination to bring a championship back to Dallas.
“Having fun and winning a Super Bowl. Period,”
Prescott said, as reported by The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
“It’s what I want. It’s what I want from this game. I know it’s what everyone wants in the locker room. We got a head coach who I know is hungry for it. Just hearing him speak and hearing him speak about his dad and his father having those chances and those opportunities, that’s the Super Bowl. Winning, winning, winning.”
Looking Ahead: Cowboys’ Opening Game and Season Prospects
The Cowboys will kick off their 2025 season on September 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Currently, DraftKings Sportsbook lists the reigning Super Bowl champions as seven-point favorites for this matchup, highlighting the high expectations placed on Dak Prescott and his teammates as they commence their campaign.
With new leadership in Brian Schottenheimer and a roster eager to shake off years of postseason frustration, the Cowboys are firmly embracing their goal of making a deep playoff run and ending the decades-long championship drought. Prescott’s outspoken stance makes clear the mindset he intends to instill: a team where belief in winning the Super Bowl is not optional.