For Dallas Cowboys fans, it’s been a year of wondering what backup quarterback Joe Milton might look like in extended action — something they have just had to keep wondering about as starter Dak Prescott re-established himself as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks in 2025.
In an almost completely meaningless regular season finale against the New York Giants in Week 18, Cowboys fans finally got their wish as Milton was brought on to replace Prescott to start the second half.
“Joe Milton is in at quarterback,” Fox Sports NFL wrote on X. “Dak Prescott’s season is over.”
“Hell yes we’re getting Joe Milton hours in New Jersey today,” For the Win’s Christian D’Andrea wrote on X.
Milton went 7-of-13 passing for 73 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception in a 34-17 loss that dropped the Cowboys to 7-9-1 for the season.
Milton Made Historic Start for Pats in 2024 Season
How Milton might perform has been a bit of an obsession since the Cowboys cut bait on former backups Trey Lance and Cooper Rush to trade a seventh round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Milton before the season.
Much of that hype came from the one historic start Milton made as a rookie for the Patriots in the 2024 regular season, in the Week 18 finale, where he went 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions to go with 1 rushing touchdown in a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.
It was historic in that, had the Patriots lost, they would have received the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft — something you can make an argument they should have put every effort toward doing.
“A year ago in the New England Patriots season finale, most fans rooted for the team to lose to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft,” NFL reporter Dan Kelley wrote on X. “HC Jerod Mayo (fired) and QB Joe Milton III (traded) led the Patriots to a victory vs the Bills to finish 4-13. A lot has changed.”
With a loss to the Cowboys, the Giants were in play for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
“A tradition unlike any other: Joe Milton deciding in Week 18 what the top-3 of the draft looks like,” NFL Daily Podcast’s Gregg Rosenthal wrote on X.
“The Cowboys have inserted Joe Milton at QB, and Dak Prescott is done for the day (and season),” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on X. “The Giants are up 16–10 and could fall from having the No. 1 pick last week to as low as outside the top five with another win.”
Questioning Why Prescott Even Played Week 18
Some even questioned the intelligence of even playing Prescott for one half in a meaningless game.
“Joe Milton should start and play the entire game on Sunday,” Cowboys podcaster Dan Rogers wrote on X. “Anything to the contrary is just coaching malpractice, IMO.”
Milton was a sixth round pick by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft — the same year they selected quarterback and likely 2025 NFL MVP Drake Maye at No. 3 overall.
“Just like that, Dak Prescott’s season is over, and Joe Milton is in the game for the Dallas Cowboys,” Cowboys fan account Dak Muse wrote on X. “4552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns. And a lot to look forward to next season. Thank you 4, you were a bright light watching you sling the football this season.”
Cowboys Make Highly Anticipated QB Switch in Loss to Giants