Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith growing very tired of former team's struggles

LAS VEGAS - Emmitt Smith said his frustration with the Dallas Cowboys has reached new levels.

"It is borderline embarrassing," Smith, the Hall of Fame running back, told USA TODAY Sports Friday about his former team.

The Cowboys have not reached the Super Bowl since 1996, when Smith won his third championship with Dallas. This past year, the postseason struggles continued when Dallas lost to the Green Bay Packers 48-32 in a wild card playoff matchup in front of a sellout home crowd.

"I’m done," Smith said when asked about his frustration. He added, “It’s almost like when I think about what I’ve experienced over the last year with the Cowboys, I’ve never been at this place, at the place I’m at right now."

Smith said he welcomed the addition of Mike Zimmer, who the Cowboys hired as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Zimmer was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for eight years before getting fired after the 2021 season and he was an assistant coach with the Cowboys from 1994 to 2006.

SUPER BOWL CENTRAL: Latest Super Bowl 58 news, stats, odds, matchups and more.

“I cannot wait to give him a big hug because I think we need some of that old school tradition brought back into the mix," Smith said.

The relationship between Zimmer and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy also will be key, according to Smith.

" 'Cause Zimmer could call (McCarthy) out on his (expletive)," he said.

Although McCarthy and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are facing intense scrutiny from the Cowboys' fan base, Smith said the team does not need to be overhauled.

“We have the talent," he said. "We just got to do things a little bit differently and focus on things a little bit differently than what we’ve been doing."

Smith also addressed the development of Prescott, who next season will be working with new Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

"I think with Dak Prescott, offensive coordinators can make a quarterback look real good or they can make him look real bad," Smith said. "And I think you have a combination of both.

“I don’t know if Dak’s development as a quarterback is at the level I think it should be by now. I don’t know if the trust level is there at the level at it should be."