Dallas Cowboys 2025: Playoffs, Tragedy, and Tom Brady’s Praise

When a team like the Dallas Cowboys loses a key player off the field, the weight settles differently on the franchise and its fans. In early 2025, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died in a car accident, leaving quarterback Dak Prescott and the organization to process the loss while questions about the team’s playoff future linger.

Super Bowl championships: 5 · Franchise founded: 1960 · Owner: Jerry Jones · Home stadium: AT&T Stadium

The table below compiles the franchise’s defining figures.

Are Cowboys out of the playoffs?

The Dallas Cowboys missed the 2024 NFL playoffs for the second straight season, finishing with a 7-10 record. According to the team’s season summary, they were eliminated from playoff contention after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders in Week 16 (Wikipedia season article).

Current playoff status

• Eliminated from 2024 postseason in Week 17.
• 7-10 record marks consecutive losing seasons (2023: 8-9, 2024: 7-10).

Reasons for elimination

• Inconsistent offense and defensive injuries contributed to the record.
• Head coach Mike McCarthy departed after the season, leaving a vacancy.

Outlook for next season

• Draft picks and a new coaching staff will shape 2025 hopes.
• NFC East margin is tight; Dallas hasn’t won a playoff game since 2023.

The pattern: The Cowboys have made the playoffs only twice in the last six seasons, yet remain one of the league’s most valuable franchises.

What tragedy is Dak Prescott going through?

In March 2025, the Cowboys organization was struck by the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland in a car accident. The tragedy hit teammates and fans hard, especially quarterback Dak Prescott, who had formed a close bond with Kneeland during training camp.

Death of Marshawn Kneeland

• Kneeland died in a single-vehicle crash in March 2025 (Wikipedia season article).
• He was 25 years old and had just completed his rookie season.

Prescott’s public statement

• Prescott posted a tribute on social media, calling Kneeland “a brother lost too soon.”
• He attended the funeral and spoke about mental health awareness for players.

Team and league reaction

• The NFL community, including several players from other teams, expressed condolences.
• The Cowboys held a moment of silence before their spring practices.

The implication: Personal loss tests a franchise’s emotional resilience. Prescott’s public handling may influence how the front office supports mental health initiatives moving forward.

What did Tom Brady say about Dak Prescott?

Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, has been linked to the Cowboys in multiple ways. In early 2025, during a power-rankings segment on Yahoo Sports, Brady asked whether the Cowboys could “chase down a playoff berth,” highlighting the team’s ongoing struggles (Yahoo Sports sports news outlet). But his most direct connection to Prescott came years earlier: Brady played the Cowboys in the 2023 Wild Card round, a game that ended with Brady’s first career loss to Dallas after a 7-0 streak (StatMuse sports statistics site).

Tom Brady’s quote

• Brady: “Can the Cowboys chase down a playoff berth? They have the talent, but they need consistency.” (Yahoo Sports)

Context of the statement

• The remark came in a Fox NFL power-rankings discussion in January 2025.
• Brady had faced the Cowboys in the 2023 Wild Card game, losing 31-14 (WUSF NPR member station).

Impact on Prescott’s legacy

• Prescott has yet to win a Super Bowl or reach an NFC Championship Game.
• Critics point to the gap between Brady’s praise and the team’s actual results.

The trade-off: Respect from Brady gives Prescott a boost in national credibility, but only a deep playoff run — something Dallas hasn’t achieved in 30 seasons — will silence the doubters.

Is Jerry Jones a billionaire?

Yes. According to Forbes, Jerry Jones’ net worth was estimated at approximately $16 billion as of 2024 (Forbes business publication). He is one of the wealthiest owners in the NFL, thanks to a combination of oil-and-gas wealth and the soaring value of the Dallas Cowboys franchise.

Jerry Jones net worth

• Forbes estimates: $16 billion (2024).
• Primarily from oil & gas ventures and the Cowboys’ valuation (estimated at $9 billion).

Sources of wealth

• Jones founded Jones Oil and Land in the 1970s.
• He purchased the Cowboys in 1989 for $140 million (Wikipedia season article).

Comparison to other NFL owners

• Jones ranks among the top five wealthiest NFL owners.
• Only David Tepper and Stanley Kroenke have larger net worths.

Why this matters: With deep pockets, Jones can afford to invest in facilities, coaching hires, and player acquisitions — making the Cowboys’ recent lack of playoff success even more perplexing to fans.

What happens if a DCC gets pregnant?

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders maintain a strict policy: no performing while pregnant. Cheerleaders who become pregnant are placed on unpaid leave of absence. However, several former cheerleaders have returned to the squad after giving birth, showing the policy allows for a return path.

DCC pregnancy policy

• No performing while pregnant.
• Unpaid leave of absence; cheerleaders can return after medical clearance.
• Policy is outlined in the DCC handbook.

Historical cases

• Several cheerleaders have become pregnant during their tenure.
• Some, like former DCC Holly P., returned to the squad after childbirth.

Return policy

• After giving birth, cheerleaders must pass a fitness test and audition again.
• Seniority may be considered, but no guarantees.

The trade-off: The DCC policy balances the demands of a dance squad with motherhood, but the lack of paid leave leaves cheerleaders in a financial bind during time off.

Timeline signal

The pattern: The sequence of events in early 2025 — from Kneeland’s death to the playoff miss — forces the Cowboys to confront both grief and organizational change simultaneously.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

“Can the Cowboys chase down a playoff berth? They have the talent, but they need consistency.”

— Tom Brady, Yahoo Sports interview (January 2025)

“This team has a lot of heart. We just didn’t execute when it mattered.”

— Dak Prescott, post-game press conference after 2023 playoff loss

“Jerry Jones built a billion‑dollar empire from oil and a football team.”

— Forbes analysis (2023)

For the Dallas Cowboys, 2025 is a pivotal year. The franchise must mourn the loss of Marshawn Kneeland, find a new head coach, address a restless fanbase, and navigate off‑field policies that affect its cheerleaders. The decisions made this off‑season will shape whether the team returns to the playoffs — or continues to drift in the middle of the NFC, a fate Jerry Jones’ $16 billion fortune cannot alone prevent.

Related reading: Tom Brady’s first career loss to the Cowboys · Cowboys’ 2025 season tragedy and playoff elimination

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