Dak Prescott breaks silence after driver calls Cowboys’ loss embarrassing and explains what really bothered him

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott responded after a driver called the team’s 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers “embarrassing” on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Prescott admitted that the criticism was not entirely wrong, but he took issue with the way the man reacted after being noticed. The exchange happened at AT&T Stadium after Dallas fell to 2-3, while Tampa Bay celebrated its first win of the season.What did Dak Prescott say after the driver called the Cowboys’ loss embarrassing?The exchange happened as Prescott walked toward the locker room after the game. A man standing near the players’ exit called the Cowboys’ performance “embarrassing.” Prescott turned toward him, and the interaction continued as he questioned why the man looked away after making the comment.Video of the incident showed Prescott asking a Cowboys employee to remove the man from the area. The person was first described as a stadium worker, but the Dallas Cowboys and later reports identified him as a driver working for a third-party car service.Prescott addressed the incident during his postgame press conference. He did not completely reject the criticism, but explained that the man’s reaction bothered him.“I mean, not that they’re wrong,” Prescott said.He then explained what happened when he looked toward the driver.“When he said that, I just happened to look at him, and at that point, he looked away, didn’t look, and then when I turned my head back, he said something else,” Prescott told reporters.The quarterback made it clear that he had no problem with people sharing their opinions about the team’s performance. What bothered him was the way the driver appeared to avoid facing him after making the remark.“Feel free to speak your mind. Speak it, just don’t cower away from the reaction you’re going to get,” Prescott said. “So, yeah, if you’re saying it’s embarrassing, say it’s embarrassing. If you’re saying it to me, then say it to me. Don’t go back on it.”His comments showed that he understood why people were unhappy with the result, even though he did not like how the criticism was delivered. The loss had given Dallas plenty to think about, and Prescott was also asked to explain the team’s performance on the field.How did Brian Schottenheimer react to the Cowboys’ defeat against Tampa Bay?Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer also spoke about the exchange. He said people were free to share their opinions and described the criticism as something that could motivate the team. His response came after Dallas struggled to stop Tampa Bay and failed to turn its chances into enough points.The Buccaneers won 24-16, handing Dallas its third defeat of the season. Prescott finished with 316 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, according to the official game reports. Tampa Bay also recorded its first win of the 2026 season, leaving the Cowboys with a 2-3 record.The result was disappointing for Dallas, especially because the Buccaneers had entered the game without a win. However, Prescott also made it clear that calling the loss embarrassing could take credit away from Tampa Bay’s performance.He acknowledged that Dallas had been expected to win, but pointed to the opposition’s work rather than dismissing the result as a poor showing alone. That distinction matters because the Buccaneers earned the victory on the field, while the Cowboys were left to deal with their mistakes.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.