Dak Prescott Named to NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

The former Mississippi State quarterback takes home a prestigious NFL award.

Former Mississippi State quarterback and current Dallas Cowboys starter Dak Prescott was awarded the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Thursday night at the NFL Honors Show in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is awarded annually to a NFL player recognized for their contributions to community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field.

Amount Prescott's ventures off the field includes the creation of his foundation Faith Fight Finish (FFF), which focuses on research towards colon cancer, as well as mental health, suicide prevention, closing the gap between law enforcement and their communities, and assisting those who are facing life-changing adversities.

In addition to his foundation, Prescott also donated $1 million dollars towards improving police training and addressing systematic racism following the death of George Floyd in 2020. In 2022, Prescott joined former Cowboy Troy Aikman as the co-chairman of Children's Cancer Fund Gala, an annual fundraiser for research and pediatric cancer in North Texas and the United States as a whole.

Prescott joins Jason Witten, Troy Aikman, and Roger Staubach as the only four Cowboys players to win the prestigious award for philanthropy and community service.

"I'm grateful every day for the opportunity to continue to chase the legacy of Walter Payton and the former Man of the Year winners," Prescott said after receiving the award on Thursday night. 

"I draw so much inspiration from each of you, who represent the immense potential that we have as NFL players to make an impact on the community and the world. Our work will never be done, and it will not be easy. But through adversity we find our strength, and I know we will carry on our worthy pursuits not being discouraged by how far we have to go, but rather emboldened by the hope that we can leave this world a better place than we found it."

Prescott also took the time to honor his mother, Peggy, who passed away from colon cancer in 2013.

"I want to acknowledge the person who's had the biggest influence on my life: my mother, Peggy," he said. "My mother was and still is my moral compass. And through my own charitable contributions, I seek to share her strength and courage with the world. It was one of a kind."

The former Mississippi State Bulldog was drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. During the 2022 NFL season, he led the Cowboys to a top-five scoring offense and a 12-5 season record, despite missing five games due to a broken thumb. He also led the Cowboys to a playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tom Brady's final career game.