The 2024 season felt like a gut punch for the Dallas Cowboys; a 7-10 finish with no playoff berth and a roster that never quite found its rhythm. But as the 2025 season approaches, one thing gives the Cowboys and their fans a reason to believe again. CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan identified a reason for optimism for each NFL team following the draft and free agency, and for the Cowboys, it’s simple.

Dak Prescott is healthy. Dallas can look forward to getting their starting quarterback back on the field and healthy. Last season, Dak Prescott was limited to just eight games due to a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve, but he is expected to be healthy for the 2025 season.

While the veteran's 2-5 playoff record casts doubt on his ability to push the Cowboys through the postseason, Prescott is 76-46 throughout his regular season career, which sets up Dallas for a rebound after a 7-10 season in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being sidelined with a hamstring injury that limited him to just eight games in 2024, Prescott is expected to return at full strength this fall. And with him comes stability, leadership, and most importantly, a chance to compete in what is now one of the best divisions in football.

Say what you want about the postseason record (2-5), but in the regular season, Prescott’s resume speaks for itself: a 76-46 record over nine seasons. He’s the engine of the Cowboys’ offense, and his presence alone reshapes the outlook of the entire team. The Cowboys used this offseason to retool parts of the offense, injecting young talent like first-round pick Tyler Booker to the offensive line, revamping its back field with three new players, and retooling the WR corps.

Adding , rookie Jaydon Blue a speedster out of Texas and trade acquisition WR George Pickens fuels what the team hopes to be a bounce-back year under rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer. But no change matters more than having No. 4 back under center.

Prescott brings calm in chaos, poise in pressure, and a fire that still burns despite last year’s frustrations. If Dallas is going to climb back into the NFC playoff mix, it starts with a healthy Prescott. And for now, that’s exactly what they’ve got.

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