The uncertainty of Dak Prescott’s future with the Dallas Cowboys is finally a conversation of the past. Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year deal worth $160 million. One of Dak’s high school coaches agrees that the deal is a win-win situation in terms of money for everyone. But, he reflects on the new contract, from a different scope that involves Dak’s character off the field.
Reflection Dak Overcoming Adversity
Jason Brotherton is currently the head coach at Haughton High School in Haughton, Louisiana. Haughton, only registering a population of nearly 3,500 people.
Brotherton has been on the coaching staff of the Haughton football program for over 20 years now. But, there is one player he says will forever hold a special place in his heart. That player being none other than Dak Prescott.
Dak grew up constantly around his two older brothers, Jace and Tad Prescott. This is how Brotherton knew Dak Prescott well before he officially joined the Haughton football program. Brotherton says he’s seen Dak grow since he was around seven years old.
Dak’s high school coach reflects on Dak having a tough life early on, but never letting that impact how he treated other. This included his coaches, teammates, school staff or anyone he came in contact with.
“That’s a guy that grew up living in a trailer, and didn’t have his own bedroom for most of his life. From an early age Dak was very mature. He connects with people. He’s a natural born leader. I could see, immediately, other kids were going to follow him,” says Brotherton.
Dak’s Humble Mindset
Brotherton noted that despite Dak’s early challenges in life, there was always one quality that stuck out early on, his humble mindset.
“You almost take for granted when you’re around him all of the time, that that’s not normal,” Brotherton said about Dak’s outlook on life.
He went on to recall a memory from Dak’s last game at Haughton that, he says, defines the type of person Dak is even to this day.
Brotherton recalled the night of November 26, 2010, Haughton’s quarterfinal playoff game that would have taken them to the State Championship. At the time, Haughton was coming off an undefeated, 12-0, season. The Bucs would lose the game by eight points with Dak as their starting QB.
At the time, Dak was a senior and already committed to Mississippi State. He was seen as, what Brotherton described, as a local celebrity at that point.
Brotherton says he will never forget walking back into the locker room a couple of hours after the game, when all but one player had already left. He walked in to see Dak playing football with three younger kids, who were related to other coaches.
“He stayed behind on a tough night for him. It’s all over, and played ball with those kids. You can’t fake that. That’s genuine, that’s real,” says Brotherton.
Dak’s high school coach reflects back to when Dak constantly tried to shine the spotlight on his teammates, coaches, and friends when talking to the media after games. Something Brotherton says was refreshing for him to see as a coach.
Dak’s Contributions Off the Field
Brotherton isn’t the only one who feels that the Dallas Cowboys made the right choice for their QB1 with this new long-term deal.
During Wednesday’s press conference Jerry Jones mentioned multiple times that Dak is a major key to success for the Cowboys franchise not only on the field, but off of it as well.
“There has been no one that I’ve had the occasion to be a part of that enjoys the support about all of the right things that you and I want to aspire to be than Dak Prescott,” said Jerry Jones.
Dak setting a positive example is something Jerry Jones and Jason Brotherton can both agree on.
“There’s a lot of things he’s gonna do that has nothing to do with what goes on on the field, but in the end it’s gonna win games,” says Brotherton referring to Dak’s ability to lead by example.
“He always represents out town, community, and school with class and dignity. He doesn’t forget where he’s from,” continued Brotherton.
On Wednesday, Dak mentioned his upbringing and faith many times during the press conference as well.
“I told my girlfriend and brother and family, if there’s even one thing about me that looks like it’s changing, let me know. Remind me where I’m from,” said Prescott giving everyone a peak of the humble mindset Brotherton knows him for.
Dak’s high school coach reflects on Dak’s new deal and says the Cowboys did good. “He [Dak] is a winner and he’s [Dak’s] gonna win,” says Brotherton. Something the Jones family and Dak agree is the plan for the upcoming season.
