Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are two of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. They're also in a select group of 35+ year old quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl, with the duo of Brady and Manning being the only to do so since 2000. This has to have an impact on the way Jerry Jones is thinking about the future of his Dallas Cowboys.
The past two seasons have been disappointing, to put it lightly. Injuries played a role, but it is the complete lack of competence defensively that has held the team down. That is despite boasting a lethal offense led by their unstoppable passing attack.
A great offense can cover up a bad defense, but when giving up 30+ points is the average on a weekly basis, it becomes an extremely steep mountain to climb for far too long. With the sights set on the 2026 NFL season, patience is thin, and anxiety is high.
The Cowboys' Super Bowl window is closing fast
Quarterback Dak Prescott will be 33 years old to start the 2026 season. His performance, when healthy, is among the best in the league, but health and a lack of support on the other side of the ball appear to be ending his career.
A now rejuvenated interior defensive line is the only bright spot on the lackluster defense. On the bright side, it is arguably the most difficult area to have as a strength. The hope, and a serious emphasis on hope, is that all the other areas will be addressed over the next two seasons through free agency and the draft.
Youth is blooming on the offensive line and in the wide receiver room, leaving the defense as the only glaring spot for top talent to be added. It's possible for the unit to have a quick turnaround, just as many do with a change in defensive playcallers. Will Jerry be willing to make that change for the third consecutive season? Recent comments suggest he is.
The questions that the team must answer are: How can the Cowboys find stability on defense? How can they make the stability last long enough to prolong a championship window for the team? And, how can the team keep Prescott healthy enough to continue the offensive powerhouse it is today?
Dak will be 35 years old starting in the 2028 season, just two years from now. The Cowboys can either pull it together early or risk having an anomaly of a Super Bowl run after. Right now, the odds are not in their favor.