Ah, the Dallas Cowboys—the NFL’s longest-running reality show, starring Jerry Jones as the all-powerful, all-meddling owner who somehow always finds a way to make things interesting. This time? It’s the aftermath of another season that ended with more disappointment than a Cowboys fan in January. And now, Dak Prescott and his teammates are making it clear: It wasn’t us—it was them.
Yes, we are talking about the NFLPA Report Card! The annual behind-the-scenes peek at how teams treat their players. Dallas cracked the top 10 this year, earning high marks for its facilities, locker room, and even how it treats players’ families. But ownership? That’s where things got a little dicey.
NFLPA highlighted: “Owner Jerry Jones’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 8.59 out of 10 from the Cowboys players, a ranking of 16 out of 32 owners in the league. The players feel that ownership slightly contributes to a positive team culture, a rank of 23 out of 32. The players feel that ownership is committed to building a competitive team, a rank of 25 of the 32 NFL owners.”
How the Cowboys graded among their players in the latest NFLPA Team Report Cards:
Treatment of families: A
Food/dining: B+
Nutritionist/dietician: B+
Locker room: A
Training room: C
Training staff: C
Weight room: A-
Strength coaches: B+
Team travel: B-
Head coach: A
Ownership: B
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 26, 2025
Players gave Jerry Jones a B (which, let’s be real, probably stings more than an F for a guy who only accepts perfection). The Cowboys ranked 23rd in team culture, 25th in ownership commitment to winning, and—get this—16th in Jones’ willingness to invest in the facilities. Imagine being worth billions and getting called out for not spending enough.
So, cutting to the chase: the Cowboys scored high marks in areas like treatment of families (A), locker room (A), and weight room (A-), but the cracks start showing when you dig deeper. Food and nutrition? Solid B+. Team travel? B-. Strength coaches? Another B+. But the real eyebrow-raisers? The training room (C) and training staff (C), which doesn’t exactly scream “elite player care.”
One thing the players did appreciate? Mike McCarthy. Yes, the same Mike McCarthy who is no longer the head coach. Players credited him for the team’s leadership and culture and hence why the Head Coach received a solid A. And yet, Jerry let him walk. Makes sense, right? Only in the Jerry’s World …
Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ training room landed in the bottom five, with players requesting better treatment options and more physical therapists. Considering how banged up this team always seems by December, maybe that should be priority No. 1? But nah, why fix the actual problems when you can just shuffle the coaching staff and hope for different results?
The Big D might be expecting a little too much out of Dak Prescott
The Cowboys are at a crossroads. Again.
Dallas fans didn’t exactly throw a parade when Jerry Jones promoted Brian Schottenheimer to head coach. Another familiar face. Another safe choice… And yet another year of wondering if this team can actually take the next step.
But as long as Dak Prescott is under center, the Cowboys will always have a shot. That’s not just the company line—it’s reality.
“With all the [Troy] Aikmans and the [Tony] Romos and the Daks, someone is falling into a Tier 2 quarterback or higher every time,” an NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “You are going to be in the mix whether you hire Jason Garrett, Mike McCarthy or really anyone.” Translation? The Cowboys’ success is tied to Prescott, not whoever is wearing the headset.
But let’s be real. “In the mix” doesn’t cut it. Since 1995, this franchise hasn’t sniffed a Super Bowl. Heck, they haven’t even made it to an NFC Championship Game. The post-Barry Switzer era has been a carousel of head coaches—Gailey, Campo, Parcells, Phillips, Garrett, McCarthy, and now Schottenheimer. The result? 12 playoff appearances, four postseason wins, and a fanbase running out of patience. At some point, you have to ask: is the problem really just coaching, or is it deeper than that?
The Cowboys seem to think part of the solution is adding a young quarterback behind Prescott. With a $90 million cap hit looming, Stephen Jones admitted that finding a young signal-caller is a ‘preference’ in the upcoming draft. Right now, Will Grier is the only other QB under contract. Cooper Rush and Trey Lance? Both free agents. Dallas has to decide if it’s rolling with Prescott long-term or hedging its bets.
Meanwhile, the offense is shifting. Schottenheimer and his staff are dialing up a more physical approach—winning in the trenches, pounding the rock, setting up play-action. “Coach Schottenheimer’s talked about it, and it’s going to be a physical identity,” offensive line coach Conor Riley said. “We have to win up front on both sides of the football.” The idea? Take pressure off Prescott, open up the passing game, and stop making him carry the load alone.
Will it work? Maybe. Dak Prescott is still the guy. The Cowboys need him to be efficient, make smart decisions, and deliver in big moments. But this plan only works if the offensive line holds up and the run game actually becomes a legitimate threat. Otherwise, it’s just another offseason promise that won’t hold up past week 5.
Dallas is entering a pivotal year. Prescott’s contract, Schottenheimer’s new vision, and the ever-present expectation of winning it all—something has to give. Will this new approach finally break the cycle? Or will it be another season of being “in the mix” without ever finishing the job? The clock is ticking.
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