Dak Prescott talks handling the adversity that comes with Cowboys QB job
Whether you think he is the franchise quarterback for this team or not, Dallas Cowboys QB1 Dak Prescott is a good human being. He was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his charitable work with mental health, cancer, and equality through his Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation.
His road hasn’t been easy. He lost his mom to colon cancer in 2013. He lost his brother to suicide in 2020. And, in the same year he lost his brother, he sustained an ankle injury that was so gruesome people thought it could be the end of his football career.
Yet, Prescott has continued to battle. He’s continued to push through all the adversity he’s faced.
Perhaps that’s the reason why when Cowboys fans and NFL analysts continually criticize him for his play — even though he’s arguably a top 10 quarterback in this league — No. 4 is able to stay calm, cool, and collected.
In a recent sit-down interview with NBC’s Peter King, the reporter asked the 29-year-old how he is able to handle perhaps the most public, microscope job in the world: being the quarterback of the Cowboys.
A sense of confidence despite all he’s been through keeps him going.
"“As I said, I believe in myself. I’m comfortable in my own skin. I know who I am. I try to be transparent and genuine in everything that I do.Therefore, if something ever would come up or if some, it wouldn’t be a surprise. It’s who I am.Yeah, just focusing on all the things that I can control. And I think the more that everyone in this world can do that… they’ll control their emotions. They’ll control their resopnisbilites.A lot of things are going to be revolving doors around you, but a lot of times you can’t affect that. So don’t allow that to sink into your head and mess with your confidence, your mojo.”"
Dak Prescott says the adversity he’s been through in his life help him stay grounded as the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys
Confidence or not, Prescott continues to be shamed by fans. They call him “Dakota” (as if to imply he’s feminine) or blame him for the entirety of the issues going on in a franchise full of many problems. We see it in the comments all the time. Yet, he still lifts up his teammates and keeps a smile on his face.
King wants to know how. How can someone be the constant receiver of ridicule and still do his job and inspire others?
"“Because of experience. Some unfortunate things happened in my life. A bunch of different adversities. When I speak about those things. When I speak about controlling what you can control, it comes from a real spot. It comes from a place of experience. I’ve had to do it time and time again. My mom. My brother. My injury. I believe when I talk about these things, they know that it’s not just smoke. That I had to do this myself and now that I’m on the other side of these things. It’s easier to listen to somebody that’s done it and been in those shoes.”"
Prescott even said he may write a book one day about everything he’s been through in his life. Disgruntled Cowboys fans won’t read it. They’ll tell him he’s soft. They’ll say none of it matters unless he brings the Cowboys a championship.
No one’s trying to say he’s the best in the league. No one is saying he shouldn’t be better than he is. But, let’s remember that there are 52 other people on the roster who affect whether games are won or lost. There’s a GM/owner upstairs who likes to make questionable decisions. And, truly, at the end of the day, Prescott is better than many other starting quarterbacks in this league. This interview shows he’s likely a better human being than most of them, too.
The hate will continue to come the 29-year-old’s way, but Prescott tries to stay above the noise.
