FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys announced that third-year QB Dak Prescott is this year’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year Award presented by Nationwide. The annual NFL award is the most prestigious award a player can receive, because it honors the outstanding community service achievements off the field. Three former Dallas Cowboys have previously taken home the award (Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Jason Witten).
Prescott was named a nominee for the work he does through his Faith Fight Finish Foundation to raise awareness to the forms of cancer and support families going through a similar battle he went through with his mother. The foundation is focused on fighting cancer and offering encouragement to families suffering through the life-altering adversity of the disease. He also works with StandUp2Cancer to raise funds and bring awareness to the specific form of colon cancer that impacted his family’s life.
He endured the pain of loosing a mother to colon cancer during his college football career. Prescott had to watch his mother’s health deteriorate while playing college ball at Mississippi State. He is now living out the dream she had for him and continuing her legacy with the “Prescott” name on the back of his jersey for America’s Team. Football has been a saving grace and driving force for Dak, and he wants to be able to bring the same kind of support he received from his family, coaches, and teammates over the years into the lives of others facing the same hardship he endured. He is using his platform for good and is well deserving of the award. This is the reason he gained the support of the locker room in 2016 as a rookie: his willingness to effect change through a positive outlook and his character.
“ I am extremely humbled to be named the Dallas Cowboys candidate for the Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year, “ Prescott remarked. “ I started my foundation in memory of my mother and to honor a promise I made to make a positive impact on the world. Being recognized for the work I am doing in the community means that I am living up to the promise I made her. I want to work even harder now to make a difference in the lives of those that are facing adversity. The award is for both of us. “
Prescott will wear a Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year helmet decal through the remainder of the season in recognition of his nomination and the winner will be announced during the NFL Honors, a two-hour awards special airing on February 2, on the eve of Super Bowl LIII on CBS.
