NFL Analyst Sends Stern Message to Cowboys QB Dak Prescott
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
As the quarterback of the most iconic franchise in the NFL, Dak Prescott has had to deal with outside noise and lofty expectations for his entire career. This season is no different, as one former player turned analyst sent a strong message to the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
During Tuesday's edition of ESPN's "NFL Live," Marcus Spears gave his thoughts on the Cowboys heading into the 2025 campaign. Following their offseason upgrades, he feels Prescott has nothing to hide behind and has the pieces in place to put together a strong season.
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after a loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after a loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
"I put it on Dak Prescott," Spears said. "What do we hear every year about Dak Prescott? Great leader, understands how to lead a team, gets everybody involved. He's a guy that these people want to follow, he's the face of the franchise. Well, you up Dak Prescott. Not only in your leadership, but now you have guys on both sides of the field at the wide receiver position that can make plays, so there will be no excuses."
.@mspears96 explains why the pressure is on Dak Prescott this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/RKFmMLzyXh — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 10, 2025
The Cowboys took a big gamble this offseason by acquiring George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he's had his fair share of off-field drama, he has the potential to be a top receiver in the league. Most notably, Prescott now has one of the top receiver duos at his disposal in 2025.
Heading into this season, Prescott will be looking to bounce back in a big way for the Cowboys. 2024 was a year to forget for him, as it was cut short due to injury. In a Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Prescott suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery and left him sidelined for the remainder of the season. Before going down, the Cowboys star totaled just shy of 2,000 passing yards along with 11 touchdowns.
Between returning from injury and having new weapons at his disposal, Prescott has an array of expectations to meet. With Pickens in the mix now, many believe Dallas can have one of the league's top offenses. As the leader on that side of the ball, Prescott will be tasked with maximizing the production of all the players around him.
The Cowboys are likely to go through some growing pains, as they have numerous moving parts coming in the season. Aside from trading for Pickens, their biggest offseason change was promoting Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. This could be viewed as a positive for Prescott, as he put together one of the best years of his career when Schottenheimer took over as offensive coordinator.
Only time will tell if Prescott can bounce back and be a top-tier QB for the Cowboys or succumb to the weight of all the pressure and expectations.
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