CLEVELAND — Dak Prescott was sitting in his room at the Cleveland Marriott in Key Tower when the Dallas Cowboys quarterback got a call telling him he would become the highest-paid player in NFL history.

He was working with Ezekiel Elliott, his best friend and teammate, and his physical therapist, Luke Miller, to get his body ready for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. His agent, Todd France, FaceTimed him with the news: a four-year, $240 million contract extension, $231 million of it guaranteed.

“A little emotional phone call,” Prescott said.

From there, calls were made to his girlfriend, Sarah Jane Ramos, and a hello to his baby daughter, MJ. More calls went to his marketing team, financial advisors, and his father. He also sent a few text messages.

Less than an hour later, he was on the team bus to Huntington Bank Field, leading the Cowboys to a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

“It works for everyone and understanding where this salary cap is going, I’m glad it’s over and I can focus on winning games,” Prescott said.

By the time Prescott completes the deal in 2028, he could potentially earn more than $400 million over his career.

But he said the Super Bowl is the most important thing.

“That’s my only motivation,” Prescott said. “To do my part of the deal. To just deliver. That’s my motivation. Right now, it’s about celebrating this win tonight. A great win with these guys, excited for this plane ride back with them, but then tomorrow, turn the page, go to the Saints and take it one game at a time. That’s what’s at the forefront of my mind. Not the money. It’s about doing my part of the deal. And I want to do it here.”

In 1989, owner and general manager Jerry Jones paid $140 million to purchase the Cowboys and Texas Stadium. He won three Super Bowls in his first five years as owner, but the Cowboys’ championship drought now stands at 28 years.

“I know these numbers are beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Jones said of the guaranteed money in Prescott’s deal.

If Prescott had played the season without a deal, the Cowboys would have had a $40 million salary cap hit in 2025, in addition to not having a franchise quarterback. Ultimately, they weren’t going to take the risk.

“This was the thing to do what we’re here for — and that’s to win a championship,” Jones said. “I know our fans know that. I’m surprised that anyone would think they would disagree with the decision — but anything less than a commitment is just not the case with me.

“I gave everything I ever had or hoped to have to get a chance to be a part of the Cowboys, and it’s beyond my wildest dreams to be where we are today.”

It goes beyond Prescott, too. Prescott, a fourth-round pick in 2016, could end up as the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, passing yards, touchdown passes, attempts and completions.

Prescott, 31, finished last season with 4,516 passing yards and a league-leading 36 touchdown passes. The three-time Pro Bowler is the third-leading passer in Cowboys history, trailing only Tony Romo and Troy Aikman, and his 203 career touchdown passes rank behind only Romo (248) on the franchise’s all-time list.

Prescott has led the Cowboys to the postseason five times in his career (2016, 2018, 2021-23), but they have never advanced beyond the divisional round. In 2016, the Cowboys had home-field advantage and lost in the divisional round to the Green Bay Packers.

There’s pressure to be the Cowboys’ quarterback, and even more pressure to be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback at an average of $5 million. Green Bay’s Jordan Love, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence all make $55 million a season.

“I put the most pressure on myself,” said Prescott, who completed 19 of 32 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. “It’s that simple. I’m not happy with my … performance today and that’s what motivates me. That’s what drives me. You try to — and I say try to — you try to be disappointed in the locker room, but you know it’s a win on foreign soil, it’s good for the team and then you have your teammates telling you it was a great day for you.

“I put the most pressure on myself. No one is a bigger critic than I am personally, and I expect greatness from myself with my standards, my expectations and the same for this team.

“So there is no extra pressure.”