Dak Prescott played for Mike McCarthy for five seasons and helped the Dallas Cowboys reach the playoffs three times alongside the head coach, but the quarterback was left wanting more.

“Bummed, because we built some things,” he told Clarence Hill of ALL DLLS (h/t Charean Williams of NBC Sports) after the Cowboys announced they parted ways with McCarthy. “But I guess they couldn’t reach an agreement.”

Dallas’ success under McCarthy largely coincided with Prescott’s health.

The team went 6-10 in 2020 during the coach’s first year in large part because the quarterback was limited to just five games. However, he remained healthy for much of the next three campaigns as the Cowboys went 12-5 in each year.

Yet Prescott played just eight games in 2024 as the NFC East club dealt with inconsistency on the way to a 7-10 record.

Dallas failed to advance past the NFC Divisional Round during McCarthy’s tenure and went 1-3 in playoff games. Had it found more success in those contests, he would likely still be the team’s head coach as it focuses on upcoming offseason moves.

Instead, he is being connected to the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints after his exit.

The question now is who will take over as the head coach in Dallas.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders told ESPN’s Adam Schefter he spoke with team owner Jerry Jones and called the potential opportunity “intriguing” even though he reiterated he is the coach of the Buffaloes and loves his current position.

Whether it is Sanders or someone else, keeping Prescott healthy will be key if the Cowboys are going to live up to expectations.