Dak Prescott has been the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback for more than a decade. The 33-year-old is in his 11th season in the role, and former teammate Zack Martin says Prescott has not always received the respect he deserves.
Across his first 10 full seasons in Dallas, Prescott earned four Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro honor, and led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2023. He has taken the Cowboys to the playoffs five times and had just one losing season when starting a full year.
Martin, who retired after the 2024 season, played right guard for Dallas when Prescott became the starter. A nine-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro, Martin called Prescott a top quarterback and an exceptional leader.
“Dak has been great,” Martin said. “I think he doesn’t always get the respect that he deserves, but he’s been a big-time quarterback in this league for a long time. He’s probably the best leader that I’ve ever been around in a locker room.”
## Prescott’s playoff record fuels criticism
Despite his regular-season production, Prescott has faced criticism for his postseason results. He earns $60 million per season, making him the league’s second-highest-paid player, but has never led the Cowboys beyond the divisional round.
That record has added to fan frustration. Dallas has not reached the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, when the franchise last won the Super Bowl. Prescott’s career playoff record is 2–5. Among active starting quarterbacks, only Justin Herbert, at 0–3, has a worse postseason record.
## Martin says the Cowboys spotlight adds pressure
Martin believes much of the scrutiny comes with playing quarterback for Dallas.
“Being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, there’s a lot that comes with that,” Martin said. “There’s pressure, adversity, eyes on you at all times, and I think people underestimate that side of it. It takes a special player, a special guy, to be able to handle all that stuff. I think he’s done a great job over the last decade of being that guy for that organization.”
Prescott responded to a difficult loss to the Arizona Cardinals, in which Dallas squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, by leading the Cowboys to a win over the Indianapolis Colts. He threw for 335 yards and recorded his second-highest passer rating of the season, 114.2.
The Cowboys had been inconsistent, but remained in the NFC East playoff race at 4–5. The New York Giants were 5–3–1 after losing to the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football.
