Is Dak Prescott a legitimate MVP candidate for 2026?

[zrinkill]

Oh, he’s the 2nd best QB. Cool, thanks for pointing that out.

I guess that's another thing that you do not understand.

 

[DallasInDC]

Winning or being close to winning the NFL MVP < Winning playoff games

I'm more focused on winning games that matter. Winning beauty contests does nothing for me.

To be fair, if you are in the conversation, 9 times out 10 you are doing your part to achieve the final objective. Personally, I would rather have my QB/best players in the conversation than not.

Being in it means they are playing at an elite level (and the team is winning) not being in it means you are playing at best above average or elite, but the rest of your team sucks).

 

[DallasInDC]

Here were the vote getters and Dak.

As you can see, there was a big gap in every category but yards and INts

QB	Record	MVP Votes	Yards	TDs	Int	YPA	Rating
Stafford	12–5	366	4,707	46	8	7.9	109.2
Maye	14–3	361	4,394	31	8	8.9	113.5
Allen	11–6	91	3,668	25	10	8.0	102.2
Dak	7–9–1	0	4,552	30	10	7.6	99.5

Allen also had 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, which voters do account for

Record is the big outlier.

 

[OGSixshooter]

As long as the offense stays healthy, hell yeah. He’s been in the running 3 times already and last year was All Pro. But as the article states, the team usually must be successful in order for someone to win MVP.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2-is-dak-prescott-a-legitimate-mvp-candidate-for-2026

All players are legit aka legal candidates. Realistically? WHO GIVES A FLYING ****!!!

You can ride Dak's jockstrap all the way to near-MVP...does nothing for me.

 

[Kwyn]

During the Super Bowl era, teams with Most Valuable Player quarterbacks have reached the playoffs at a 98% clip--with the 1967 Baltimore Colts with Johnny Unitas being the lone exception. Below is the team with QB MVP playoff success rate, along with individual season finishes (click here for complete AP NFL MVP List):

No	Category	Rate
15​	Lost Super Bowl	33%​
12​	Lost Divisional Round	26%​
10​	Lost Conference Championship	22%​
7​	Won Super Bowl	15%​
1​	Lost Wild Card	2%​
1​	No Playoffs	2%​

Year	Quarterback	Team	Season Finish
2011	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	Lost Divisional Round 20-37 vs. New York Giants
2014	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	Lost Divisional Round 20-37 vs. New York Giants
2020	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	Lost Divisional Round 20-37 vs. New York Giants
2021	Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	Lost Divisional Round 10-13 vs. San Francisco 49ers
1966	Bart Starr	Green Bay Packers	Won Super Bowl 35-10 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1976	Bert Jones	Baltimore Colts	Lost Divisional Round 14-40 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
1988	Boomer Esiason	Cincinnati Bengals	Lost Super Bowl 16-20 vs. San Francisco 49ers
1995	Brett Favre	Green Bay Packers	Lost Conference Championship 27-38 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1996	Brett Favre	Green Bay Packers	Won Super Bowl 35-21 vs. New England Patriots
1997	Brett Favre	Green Bay Packers	Lost Super Bowl 24-31 vs. Denver Broncos
1980	Brian Sipe	Cleveland Browns	Lost Divisional Round 12-14 vs. Oakland Raiders
2015	Cam Newton	Carolina Panthers	Lost Super Bowl 10-24 vs. Denver Broncos
1984	Dan Marino	Miami Dolphins	Lost Conference Championship 27-31 vs. Seattle Seahawks
1968	Earl Morrall	Baltimore Colts	Lost Super Bowl 7-16 vs. New York Jets
1975	Fran Tarkenton	Minnesota Vikings	Lost Divisional Round 14-17 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1989	Joe Montana	San Francisco 49ers	Won Super Bowl 55-10 vs. Denver Broncos
1990	Joe Montana	San Francisco 49ers	Won Super Bowl 55-10 vs. Denver Broncos
1983	Joe Theismann	Washington Commanders	Lost Super Bowl 17-20 vs. New England Patriots
1970	John Brodie	San Francisco 49ers	Lost Conference Championship 10-17 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1987	John Elway	Denver Broncos	Lost Super Bowl 10-42 vs. Washington Commanders
1967	Johnny Unitas	Baltimore Colts	1st in NFL Coastal Division (no playoffs)
2024	Josh Allen	Buffalo Bills	Lost Conference Championship 29-32 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1981	Ken Anderson	Cincinnati Bengals	Lost Super Bowl 21-26 vs. San Francisco 49ers
1974	Ken Stabler	Oakland Raiders	Lost Super Bowl 33-41 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
1999	Kurt Warner	St. Louis Rams	Won Super Bowl 23-16 vs. Tennessee Titans
2001	Kurt Warner	St. Louis Rams	Lost Super Bowl 17-20 vs. New England Patriots
2019	Lamar Jackson	Baltimore Ravens	Lost Divisional Round 12-28 vs. Tennessee Titans
2023	Lamar Jackson	Baltimore Ravens	Lost Conference Championship 10-17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
2016	Matt Ryan	Atlanta Falcons	Lost Super Bowl 28-34 vs. New England Patriots
2025	Matthew Stafford	Los Angeles Rams	Lost Conference Championship 27-31 vs. Seattle Seahawks
2018	Patrick Mahomes	Kansas City Chiefs	Lost Conference Championship 31-37 vs. New England Patriots
2022	Patrick Mahomes	Kansas City Chiefs	Won Super Bowl 38-35 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
2003	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	Lost Conference Championship 14-24 vs. New England Patriots
2004	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	Lost Divisional Round 3-20 vs. New England Patriots
2008	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	Lost Wild Card 17-23 vs. San Diego Chargers
2009	Peyton Manning	Indianapolis Colts	Lost Super Bowl 17-31 vs. New Orleans Saints
2013	Peyton Manning	Denver Broncos	Lost Super Bowl 8-43 vs. Seattle Seahawks
2002	Rich Gannon	Oakland Raiders	Lost Super Bowl 21-48 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1969	Roman Gabriel	Los Angeles Rams	Lost Divisional Round 20-23 vs. Minnesota Vikings
2003	Steve McNair	Tennessee Titans	Lost Super Bowl 17-20 vs. New England Patriots
1992	Steve Young	San Francisco 49ers	Lost Conference Championship 20-30 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1994	Steve Young	San Francisco 49ers	Lost Conference Championship 20-30 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1978	Terry Bradshaw	Pittsburgh Steelers	Won Super Bowl 35-31 vs. Dallas Cowboys
2007	Tom Brady	New England Patriots	Lost Divisional Round 14-17 vs. Dallas Cowboys
2010	Tom Brady	New England Patriots	Lost Divisional Round 21-28 vs. New York Jets
2017	Tom Brady	New England Patriots	Lost Super Bowl 33-41 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

And that Unitas miss was ridiculous.

Colts finished 1-1-2, tied for best record in the league.

The LA Rams were in the same division, with the same record, but won the tiebreaker because of head to head point differential.

This was the thing that sparked the league to eventually add the wild card

Only other player to win MVP without making the playoffs was OJ

Only special teams player to win MVP was Mark Mosely, in an anti player backlash protest vote due to the players strike. Dan Fouts was absolutely robbed as he had an insane year in the strike shortened season

 

[Nexx]

he is in the best shape of his life.... ..... ....

 

[morat1959]

Man this is strong click bait! You know that man ain’t gone win no MVP!

 

[shabazz]

As long as the offense stays healthy, hell yeah. He’s been in the running 3 times already and last year was All Pro. But as the article states, the team usually must be successful in order for someone to win MVP.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2-is-dak-prescott-a-legitimate-mvp-candidate-for-2026

Sure, why not?

Sound offensive line, excellent running game and two #1 receivers at his disposal.

No reason to doubt his regular season performances but the schedule ain't exactly the easiest path to being MVP.

 

[nate dizzle]

Second-team All-Pro

Ah yes, who could forget Dak's magical bridesmaid season where he faced the dead last defensive DVOA schedule in the league...

 

[dupree89]

Ah yes, who could forget Dak's magical bridesmaid season where he faced the dead last defensive DVOA schedule in the league...

hey nate
you been on a roll these last few days my friend. I've sat here laughing at some of your stuff. truth.

 

[nate dizzle]

hey nate
you been on a roll these last few days my friend. I've sat here laughing at some of your stuff. truth.

Haha thanks man

 

[Whyjerry]

Remember Micky told Rocky women weaken knees. So Dak should be pretty good this season.

 

[Shane612]

I could care less about the MVP. The only mvp I care about is the SB MVP. It's why I think Lamar Jackson is overrated. Wins MVPs then flops in the playoffs.the talking heads Love him though.

I couldn't care less....
...and I agree.

 

[Rockport]

I couldn't care less....
...and I agree.

I third that opinion.

 

[Kevinicus]

As long as the offense stays healthy, hell yeah. He’s been in the running 3 times already and last year was All Pro. But as the article states, the team usually must be successful in order for someone to win MVP.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2-is-dak-prescott-a-legitimate-mvp-candidate-for-2026

Narrator: Dak Prescott has never been in the running for MVP, and was not an All Pro last year.

But yes, he has a pretty loaded offense around him, and he's a QB. If the defense makes great improvements, and the team does well with the wins, he would be a candidate.

 

[Blackrain]

Well we certainly have invested in the offense enough to give him a chance at it.

High draft picks on the offensive line to protect him.
A couple of the best receivers in the league.
What was a decent running game last year with javonte Williams and possibly blue making his presence known .

A good tight end.
In theory we have a much improved defense.
It certainly could be his time

All that said he's got the tools on offense to do it but I think I'm going to wait till some games are actually played to make a judgment

 

[Blackrain]

In all honesty I think if it was going to happen it probably would have happened already.

But it's not an impossibility if he stays healthy

 

[csirl]

I'd rather our coaches and players concentrated on getting this team meaningful again rather than talking about winning NFL MVP. Shows a conplete detactment from reality and a seif centered attitude - neither of which bode well for future success.

 

[Jipper]

If he stays healthy all year and the defense is top 15 then there is a likelihood he’s going to be in the conversation- with two of the best wrs in the league he should easily have the stats and if the team has the wins he will make the short list.

Dislike him or like him that’s just the reality of the league

 

[Rockport]

Narrator: Dak Prescott has never been in the running for MVP, and was not an All Pro last year.

But yes, he has a pretty loaded offense around him, and he's a QB. If the defense makes great improvements, and the team does well with the wins, he would be a candidate.

Dak has been in the running for MVP and he was All Pro last year.