Dak Prescott

Rayne Dakota 'Dak' Prescott was born July 29, 1993, in Sulphur, Louisiana, and his life has been shaped by the loss of his mother Peggy to colon cancer when he was in college — a loss that has become the defining emotional narrative of his career. He was raised in a family of athletes and leaders; his older brothers Tad and Jace played significant roles in his development, with Jace's tragic death by suicide in 2020 prompting Prescott to become one of the NFL's most visible advocates for mental health awareness. He has spoken publicly and repeatedly about depression and the importance of reaching out for help, work that has earned him widespread respect across and beyond the league.

Prescott attended Haughton High School in Haughton, Louisiana, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete before committing to Mississippi State. In Starkville he emerged as one of the most productive and durable quarterbacks in SEC history, earning multiple All-SEC selections and the Senior CLASS Award for his combination of athletic production and academic and community achievement. His leadership reputation at Mississippi State was as celebrated as his statistical production.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Prescott in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, pick 135 overall — a slot that has become one of the great draft-value stories of the modern era. When starter Tony Romo suffered a preseason back injury, Prescott stepped in as a rookie and never gave the job back, leading Dallas to a 13-3 record and earning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award along with a Pro Bowl selection in his first season.

Prescott has been a multiple-time Pro Bowl selection and has consistently produced at a top-10 level at the position, with his 2023 campaign nearly delivering an MVP award after he finished as runner-up to Lamar Jackson. His combination of pocket presence, escapability, ball placement, and late-career deep-ball improvement has made him the longest-tenured starting quarterback in Cowboys franchise history behind only Troy Aikman.

Although a Super Bowl and extended postseason success remain outstanding goals on his résumé, Prescott has established himself as the face of one of the NFL's most-watched franchises and has signed two contract extensions that briefly made him the highest-paid player in league history. He was named NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist and has been a frequent national-team selection for awards recognizing off-field leadership.

Prescott married longtime girlfriend Sarah Jane Ramos in 2024, and they have a daughter, Margaret 'MJ' Jane, born in early 2024. Away from football he runs the Faith Fight Finish Foundation, which supports cancer research and mental health advocacy, and he has endorsement deals with brands including AT&T, Campbell's, Sleep Number, and Jordan Brand. His charitable and mental-health work, combined with his steady on-field performance, has made him one of the most respected veteran leaders in the NFL.