FRISCO, TEXAS — As a new NFL season dawns, it is hard to escape the unprecedented state of the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice. Unusual times and with that comes new stress and anxiety with everyday life and for Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott, it is no different. In a conference call with media, Prescott opened up on the importance of transparency when it comes to internal struggles.
Earlier in the week leading up to Sunday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, parts of an interview Prescott conducted for “ In Depth With Graham Bensinger” were released and became a topic of discussion in anticipation over the interview’s release this weekend.
Prescott elaborated in the interview on the toll of his mother’s battle with colon cancer, his brother Jace’s suicide, and the mental health issues he has dealt with in 2020.
In speaking with Dallas media on Thursday, Prescott went into detail and expanded on the personal topics during the interview. As an extrovert, he went into the difficult experience of having to be away from people in isolation during quarantine, as many outgoing people can relate to.
“ I’m a people person, “ Prescott said. “ I’m somebody that likes to be around people. I like to inspire. I like to put a smile on people’s faces, day in and day out. And I like to lead. When that’s taken away from you simply because you’re forced to quarantine and not be around people and get around people as much as you would like to, yeah, it’s tough. As I explained, it creates new emotions. Emotions that I’ve never felt before but obviously dealt with. And I obviously got the help that I needed and was very open about it. “
With the platform and exposure that Prescott has in the spotlight of being the quarterback of America’s Team, it takes tremendous courage to be transparent about not only the process of dealing with grief, but to reveal the mental struggle he has faced with depression. Being on the national stage does not mean he eludes trials in life but rather his struggles are magnified by the attention he receives as a professional athlete. Prescott, like any other person deals with valleys, and he has had more than most people could fathom. In today’s climate in the sports world, it is often seen as a weakness to discuss areas of vulnerability in one’s life but Prescott has shown strength through raw emotion and the importance of discussing mental health.
“ When you have thoughts that you’ve never had, I think that’s more so than anything a chance to realize it and recognize it, to be vulnerable about it, “ Prescott described. “ I talked to my family, talked to the people around me simply as I did at the time. Some of them obviously had dealt with it before. Was able to have those conversations and then reach out further just to more people. I think being open about it and not holding those feelings in was one of the better things for me…Mental health is a huge issue and a real thing in our world right now… I think it’s huge to talk. I think it’s huge to get help. And it saves lives. “
This is not a usual narrative going into a new NFL season but it is one worth noting. This is bigger than football. Prescott discussed that suppressing struggles is not the action of a true leader.
“ Being a leader is about being genuine and being real. As I said, if I wouldn’t have talked about those things to the people I did, I wouldn’t have realized my friends and a lot more people go through them. And they are as common as they are. I don’t think for one second, leaders or not, I don’t care how big a person you are, if you are not mentally healthy and you are not thinking the right way then you are not going to be able to lead people the right way. “
“ Before I even lead I have to make sure my mind is in the right place to do that and lead people to where they want to be. I think that is important to be vulnerable, to be genuine and to be transparent. That goes a long way when you are a leader and your voice is being heard by so many and you can inspire. “
Prescott’s willingness to discuss mental health certainly has inspired and spurred many other people to do the same. Once again, the franchise QB is making a difference, not by accolades acquired by actions on the field, but his character off the field.
