Tensions were high inside the bowels of AT&T Stadium after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16 on “Thursday Night Football.”
Local FOX television station KDFW reported a stadium employee said “embarrassing” as Cowboys quarterback passed him while walking back to the locker room on Thursday, Oct. 8, following the upset defeat that dropped Dallas to 2-3 on the season; it was the Buccaneers’ first victory of the year. Video posted online features the word being said off camera and includes Prescott’s reaction. Other video from the scene showed Prescott calling the individual a “tough guy” and asking for his removal.
“Get his (expletive) out of here,” the quarterback said.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott got cat-called by someone in the tunnel. Someone called out “embarrassing!” Prescott heard it, said something back, and then pointed the person out to a Cowboys employee. pic.twitter.com/5qImPdjT1s
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) October 9, 2026
During his postgame news conference, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about the incident. He did not dispute the comment was made by team employee and said it was “motivating.”
“We believe in what we’re doing,” the second-year head coach continued. “We believe that we have good players, good coaches. We believe the solution is in this room. We’re going to get back to work.”
An employee inside AT&T Stadium said “embarrassing,” after that Cowboys loss.
Dak looking back to see who it was. #dallascowboys #cowboysnation pic.twitter.com/Xss7LkAO7F
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) October 9, 2026
Schottenheimer was also asked whether he interpreted the interaction, directed at the face of the team, as disrespectful.
“I didn’t say I didn’t take it as disrespect. You said that,” Schottenheimer shot back. “I didn’t say that. I said it’s motivating. People are allowed to say what they want to say.”
Prescott threw a pair of interceptions in the defeat, the second inside of the two-minute warning on a pass that should have been caught by tight end Jake Ferguson but instead deflected upward and eventually into the diving arms of Tampa Bay linebacker Alex Anzalone. Prescott completed 24 of 42 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Embarrassing’: Team employee heckles Cowboys QB Dak Prescott after loss