Dak Prescott heard someone call the Cowboys' performance "embarrassing" as he walked toward the locker room Thursday night.
Videos by FanBuzz
His response afterward wasn't to dispute the assessment.
"Not that they're wrong," Prescott told NFL reporters after Dallas' 24-16 home loss to the Buccaneers.
The quarterback turned and stared toward the person, believed to be a stadium employee or valet driver, during an exchange captured on video.
"He heard me," the person said.
Prescott later explained that his frustration centered on the man looking away and then making another comment.
"Whoever it was, he's free to speak his mind," Prescott said. "When he said it, I just happened to look at him. When I turned my head back, he said something else."
He continued: "Just speak it. Don't cower away from the reaction you're going to get."
The tunnel footage shared by reporter Adam Rossow added another uncomfortable moment to a difficult night for Dallas.
Tampa Bay won with undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels making his second career start. Prescott's interception on the Cowboys' final offensive play ended their comeback opportunity.
Here’s our angle of a worker — either stadium employee or valet car driver — calling out Dak Prescott and the Cowboys performance, with Dak’s reaction which he said was prompted by the man looking away after saying the criticisms. #dallascowboys #nfl pic.twitter.com/ffznCyahvv
— Adam Rossow (@AdamJRossow) October 9, 2026
Coach Brian Schottenheimer also addressed the criticism, saying people were entitled to express themselves and describing it as motivating.
Prescott would have preferred the exchange receive less attention.
"I hate that it's even being talked about, to be honest with you," he said.
Dallas next faces the Packers on "Sunday Night Football," with 10 days between games.
