FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott begins his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys as the team’s longest-tenured player. A fourth-round pick in 2016, Prescott will turn 33 just days into training camp and says watching old game clips highlights how much has changed since his rookie year.
Prescott still mixes light-hearted moments with intense preparation during offseason activities, joining teammates in music and stretching while also breaking down missed adjustments with tight ends and pushing back at defensive teammates after completions in voluntary work. He spent the offseason concentrating on footwork and sharpening the offense’s red-zone execution.
He stressed the importance of intentional practice and of leading by example, urging teammates to treat training reps and time together as investments in the team’s culture. Prescott said part of his role is ensuring younger players understand the value of those repetitions and the chance to build relationships outside the facility.
This year’s first-round pick, Caleb Downs, was 12 when Prescott was a rookie. The two recently played a round of golf, where Downs said he beat Prescott by a couple of strokes and picked the veteran’s brain about how Prescott reads tight ends, including Jake Ferguson. Backup quarterback Sam Howell said he grew up watching Prescott, while left tackle Tyler Guyton joked he was in middle school when Prescott arrived.
Prescott acknowledges the age gap in the locker room but rejects it as an obstacle, saying leaders must make the effort to relate and find common ground so younger players feel comfortable bringing concerns forward. He described learning about teammates’ backgrounds and families as a way to connect.
On the field, Prescott already holds multiple Cowboys franchise records and needs six more touchdown passes to pass Tony Romo’s total of 248 for the franchise lead. He reiterated that individual milestones matter less than team success and has repeatedly framed his career goal around delivering a Super Bowl, following the standards set by Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.
