Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys star apologizes for praising fans who threw trash at officials after playoff loss

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 0853 GMT (1653 HKT) January 19, 2022

Dak Prescott walks off the field after losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild card playoff game.

(CNN)Dak Prescott has apologized for his comment praising fans who threw trash at officials after the Dallas Cowboys' dramatic NFL Wild Card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

In the final moments of the game, as Prescott tried to stop the clock by throwing the ball to the turf, umpire Ramon George collided with the quarterback and time expired before another play could be run.After the game, videos on social media showed fans throwing debris aimed at the officials as they walked off the AT&T Stadium field in Arlington, Texas — some almost hitting defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. When Prescott was asked about the fans' actions, he initially expressed his disappointment thinking that they were directing their anger at the players.But when he was informed the trash was aimed at the referees, Prescott's message changed: «Credit to them.»Prescott looks on during pregame warm-ups prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers.Read MoreHowever, on Tuesday, Prescott released a statement on Twitter as he issued a fulsome apology.«I deeply regret the comments I made regarding the officials after the game on Sunday,» Prescott said. «I was caught up in the emotion of a disappointing loss and my words were uncalled for and unfair.»I hold the NFL Officials in the highest regard and have always respected their professionalism and the difficulty of their jobs. The safety of everyone who attends a game or participates on the field of a sporting event is a very serious matter.«That was a mistake on my behalf, and I am sorry.»Visit CNN.com/sport for