Dak Prescott's powerful message to the employee who felt ashamed of the Cowboys: "Don't coward away"

D ak Prescott had a message for the person who called the Dallas Cowboys “embarrassing” after their latest defeat: if you are willing to criticize someone, have the courage to say it to their face.

The Cowboys quarterback became involved in a tense exchange with a worker in the stadium’s postgame area on Thursday, October 8, after Dallas lost 24-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.

The defeat was particularly disappointing because Tampa Bay had entered the game without a win during the 2026 season, while Dallas was playing at home under the national spotlight of Thursday Night Football.

The result left the Cowboys with a 2-3 record and gave the Buccaneers their first victory of the campaign.

According to local FOX station KDFW, a stadium worker said “embarrassing” as Prescott walked past on his way back to the locker room.

Reporter Sam Gannon later clarified that the individual was a “car service driver.” Video of the interaction subsequently circulated online, capturing the comment and Prescott’s response.

In another clip, Prescott appeared to call the individual a “tough guy” before demanding that he be removed from the area.

"Get his (expletive) out of here," the quarterback said.

The exchange quickly became a talking point after a game that had already left Dallas searching for answers.

Prescott was asked about the confrontation during his postgame media availability, where he made clear that he was not necessarily objecting to the worker expressing an opinion about the team.

"I mean, not that they're wrong," Prescott began, adding "but the thing was you know, I just ... I don't know if it was an employee, if it was a driver, whoever it was, he's free to speak his mind."

However, Prescott took issue with the way the criticism was delivered, suggesting that the person appeared unwilling to stand behind the remark once the quarterback turned to face him.

"You know when he said it, 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 said. "That's the part just, as a man or as a person, feel free to speak your mind. Just speak it. Don't coward away from the reaction that you're going to get.

"If you're saying it's embarrassing, say it's embarrassing, if you're saying it to me then say it to me. You know what I mean? ... Hate it that it's even being talked about to be honest with you."

Prescott explains why he stopped short of calling the defeat embarrassing

While the confrontation generated attention, the circumstances behind it were difficult for Dallas to ignore.

The Cowboys had entered the matchup with an opportunity to improve their record against a team that had yet to win a game, but they struggled to contain Tampa Bay and repeatedly gave the visitors chances to take control.

Prescott finished with 316 passing yards and a touchdown on 24 completions from 42 attempts, but two interceptions proved costly.

The second came late in the fourth quarter, when a pass intended for tight end Jake Ferguson was deflected into the air and intercepted by Tampa Bay linebacker Alex Anzalone . That turnover effectively ended Dallas’ hopes of completing a comeback.

The quarterback nevertheless resisted describing the entire performance as embarrassing, explaining that doing so could take credit away from Tampa Bay’s efforts.

"To use the word embarrassing is tough. I feel like I'm discrediting the NFL if I use that and particularly the Tampa Bay Bucs and a great Todd Bowles, defensive coached team. ... The plan and what (the Bucs) did tonight is the reason for (this loss). To say embarrassing I think I'd be discrediting them, but we were definitely supposed to win this game,” he said.

"This is a game that we were supposed to have on paper or whichever way you want to look at it. I think ( Brian Schottenheimer ) said it best in the locker room, in this league you got to win the games you're supposed to win. When a winless team comes into your home stadium on a Thursday night, prime-time game, yeah, we're supposed to win that. So, it sucks and right up there close to embarrassing but I don't know if I would say that."

Prescott’s comments reflected the tension between acknowledging Dallas’ disappointing performance and recognizing that the Buccaneers deserved credit.

Tampa Bay produced 419 total yards, compared with Dallas’ 366, and controlled possession for more than 39 minutes. Running back Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards, including a 72-yard run that helped set up Tampa Bay’s go-ahead touchdown early in the second half.

The Cowboys , meanwhile, managed only 50 rushing yards as a team and committed three turnovers. Those numbers left Dallas with plenty to address beyond the postgame confrontation.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer was also asked about the incident. Rather than rejecting the worker’s right to voice an opinion, he described the criticism as something that could motivate the team.

"We believe in what we're doing," the second-year head coach continued. "We believe that we have good players, good coaches. We believe the solution is in this room. We're going to get back to work."

When a reporter asked whether he considered the comment disrespectful, Schottenheimer pushed back against the wording of the question.

"I didn't say I didn't take it as disrespect. You said that," Schottenheimer shot back. "I didn't say that. I said it's motivating. People are allowed to say what they want to say."

The coach’s response echoed Prescott’s acknowledgment that people are entitled to their opinions, even if the quarterback clearly disliked the manner in which this particular criticism was delivered.

For Dallas, the more pressing issue is what happens next. A 2-3 record puts pressure on the Cowboys to respond, particularly after losing to a previously winless opponent in front of their home crowd.

Prescott’s statistics showed that he was able to move the ball through the air, but the turnovers and struggles on the ground undermined the offense’s chances.

His message to the worker was ultimately about accountability: criticism is fair game, but he believes people should be prepared to stand behind what they say.

The Cowboys will now need to demonstrate that same willingness to take responsibility on the field as they attempt to recover from a defeat that left players, coaches and supporters frustrated.