In the high-stakes world of the NFL, expectations are always sky-high for franchises with the rich tradition of the Dallas Cowboys. As one of the most storied franchises in the league’s history, the Cowboys have long been the subject of hope, hype, and, increasingly, frustration. However, as the 2024 NFL season has unfolded, it’s become apparent that even the most talented rosters can falter under the weight of underperforming leadership. This season, in particular, has been marred by the underwhelming play of former Cowboys quarterbacks, whose struggles have led to surprising benchings, and left the team stumbling in the midst of an unforgiving schedule, high expectations, and a fanbase growing impatient with the lack of progress.
Coming off a relatively promising 2023 season, where the Cowboys made it to the playoffs, fans were cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances in 2024. The Cowboys roster was stacked with talent—both on offense and defense. Key acquisitions in the offseason and a promising draft class fueled hopes that Dallas could finally break its decades-long Super Bowl drought. A defense led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons was paired with an offense that boasted a talented core, including wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, running back Tony Pollard, and a group of offensive linemen that had the potential to dominate.
At the center of this anticipation, however, was the quarterback position—a perennial focal point for the Cowboys. This year, Dallas chose to lean on its former quarterbacks in an attempt to steady the ship and continue building momentum for a Super Bowl push. While Dak Prescott, who had been the face of the franchise for several years, entered the season as the starter, there was a palpable sense of uncertainty around his ability to lead the team to glory.
For the first time in recent memory, there was also a fresh face in the quarterback room: Trey Lance. After the Cowboys made a surprise trade with the San Francisco 49ers for the young, former third overall pick in the 2021 draft, many viewed Lance as a potential future franchise QB. His arrival stirred excitement and uncertainty in equal measure, with many wondering if his raw potential might ultimately supersede Prescott’s leadership.
The stage was set for a high-profile quarterback competition in training camp, with each player battling for the title of starting quarterback—and with it, the weight of Cowboys’ hopes and dreams.
From the outset of the 2024 season, it was clear that Dak Prescott was under immense pressure to prove himself once again. After seasons filled with flashes of brilliance and frustrating inconsistencies, Prescott’s ability to elevate his game in the postseason had been a lingering question mark. The 2023 playoffs had ended in heartbreak once again, with Prescott’s turnover problems costing the Cowboys in a bitter loss.
The 2024 season started with high hopes, but Prescott’s early performances were uncharacteristically erratic. There were glimpses of his old self—commanding the offense, executing precision throws, and managing the game with poise. But far too often, mistakes seemed to creep in at the worst possible moments. The turnovers were back. Passes sailed high, and on occasion, Prescott looked as though he was pressing, forcing throws into coverage or hesitating when he needed to be decisive. A 3-3 start to the season left fans frustrated, and some began to question if Prescott’s time as the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback was coming to an end.
Despite calls for a change, head coach Mike McCarthy remained firm in his support of Prescott, insisting that the veteran quarterback was still the best option for the team’s Super Bowl aspirations. However, as the season dragged on, it became evident that the Cowboys were struggling to maintain any semblance of offensive rhythm under Prescott. The playoff-caliber defense was being wasted on an offense that could not consistently put points on the board, and the team’s special teams were often left to clean up the mess after failed drives.
With the Cowboys falling further from their early-season expectations, McCarthy and general manager Jerry Jones were forced to confront the elephant in the room—was it time for a change at quarterback? Lance’s addition to the team had already sparked speculation, but the rookie backup remained largely untested on a national stage. Despite his raw potential, Lance had been overshadowed by injuries in his first few years with the 49ers and had not developed into the polished starter that many had hoped for. The Cowboys had traded for him in the hopes that with the right coaching, he might become the developmental answer at quarterback.
But as the Cowboys’ struggles deepened, it was clear that they needed more than just raw potential—they needed someone who could stabilize the offense. With Prescott continuing to falter, and with the team still firmly in the playoff hunt, the decision to bench Prescott for Lance was made, sending shockwaves through the league and raising questions about the future of the franchise.
Lance’s debut as the starting quarterback was met with much fanfare, but reality quickly set in. His first few games as the starter revealed both his immense physical gifts and his severe inexperience at the NFL level. While Lance’s athleticism and arm strength were undeniable, his decision-making often left much to be desired. In one particularly painful loss, Lance was benched in the second half after throwing two interceptions in quick succession, and the Cowboys’ offense once again sputtered.
The coaching staff’s indecision became more apparent with each passing week. The Cowboys had hoped that by giving Lance a shot, they would see a spark that would reignite the offense. Instead, they found themselves in a quarterback carousel, with neither Prescott nor Lance able to prove themselves as the answer.
As the 2024 season wore on, the Cowboys continued to tumble through a midseason slump, with each loss adding to the growing sense of unease in Dallas. Fans, who had once dreamed of Super Bowl glory, found themselves disillusioned by a season that promised so much but had delivered so little. Social media was awash with criticism of both Prescott and Lance, with fans clamoring for a permanent solution at quarterback.
Head coach Mike McCarthy, who had taken the reins from former coach Jason Garrett, found himself under increasing pressure as the season progressed. Critics began to point to his play-calling, while some questioned whether McCarthy’s reliance on Prescott had delayed the inevitable shift to Lance or another quarterback altogether. Meanwhile, Jerry Jones, the ever-present owner of the Cowboys, was largely quiet in his public assessments of the situation, though speculation about potential changes in the offseason began to swirl.
The Cowboys, once again, found themselves stuck in quarterback purgatory. With no clear solution and no apparent cohesion on offense, the team limped toward the midseason mark with the ever-present pressure to perform hanging over them. Fans, disappointed and exhausted by another year of promise unfulfilled, began to call for major changes—not just at quarterback, but across the front office.
As the 2024 season heads into its second half, the Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. With each passing game, the chances of a late-season surge seem slimmer, and the road to the postseason grows steeper. Fans and pundits alike are beginning to wonder what the future holds for both Dak Prescott and Trey Lance. Can either of them prove themselves worthy of leading the Cowboys to a Super Bowl? Or will the Cowboys once again be forced to reset, looking elsewhere for their next franchise quarterback?
The struggles of the Cowboys this season have revealed a deeper truth: the team is still searching for the right leader to carry them back to championship contention. The constant quarterback changes have only served to highlight the uncertainty at the most important position on the field.
With the clock ticking on the 2024 season, the Cowboys will need to find their footing quickly if they are to salvage what remains of their championship aspirations. The pressure is on not just the quarterbacks, but the entire franchise, to finally live up to the promise of the star on their helmets and return to the Super Bowl glory that has eluded them for nearly three decades. If not, 2024 might just be another year of disappointment in a franchise that has known far too many of them