CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 8: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 8, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Nick Cammett/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s goal hasn’t changed after signing a record $240 million contract.

Prescott told reporters after Sunday’s 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns that winning the Super Bowl is “my only motivation.”

“Keep my end of the deal. Just deliver. That’s my motivation,” he said. “Right now it’s about celebrating this win tonight. A great win with these guys, looking forward to flying back with them, but then turning the page tomorrow, going to the Saints and taking it game by game. That’s what’s at the forefront of my mind. Not the money. It’s about delivering my end of the deal. And I want to do it here.”

Prescott’s long-term future in Dallas was one of the biggest offseason stories surrounding the team. He was set to become a free agent in 2025, and losing him to free agency would have been a huge blow to the Cowboys.

Negotiations dragged on until the last minute, when news broke on Sunday that the two sides had reached a four-year deal that will see Prescott receive the highest average salary ever in the NFL ($60 million).

It’s a tough job being the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, no matter how much you’re paid. And this isn’t the first time Prescott has received an unprecedented payday in Dallas, raising expectations.

This time, however, it’s a little different, as there’s an added sense of urgency for everyone involved.

Team owner Jerry Jones turns 82 in October. Prescott is 31 and in his ninth season in the NFL. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who also signed a multi-year extension during the offseason, and edge rusher Micah Parsons are both in their prime.

The Cowboys need to win a Super Bowl within the next four years, because who knows what their championship window will look like in 2029 and beyond.

For Prescott, his legacy is on the line. He’s on pace to become the most productive quarterback in franchise history, having already thrown for the third-most yards (29,638) and second-most touchdowns (203). But the lack of a single championship on his resume likely puts him a tier below Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach in the eyes of fans.