Dak Prescott’s Parents: Facts about Peggy and Nathaniel Prescott

Dak Prescott's parents, Peggy, and Nathaniel Prescott, were integral in their son's growth and remain dear to the football star. Although only Nathaniel remains alive, Peggy lives on through her youngest son's legacy.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott comes from humble beginnings. Born to Peggy Prescott and Nathaniel in 1993, he was the youngest of three boys, growing up in a trailer park in rural Louisiana.

Dak's parents divorced when he was younger, but the former couple maintained a close connection. Following their separation, Dak and his older siblings, Jace and Tad, lived with Peggy, who set an enduring example for her kids.

Dak Prescott's Parents: His Mother, Peggy Prescott, Embodied Selflessness

Peggy provided for her boys by managing a truck stop called Huddle House. Money was tight, but that never stopped her from opening her home to children in need. She would even allow them to live in her trailer when troubles arose in their homes.

Dak inherited his mom's kindness as they grew up to return it. When he was ten, Peggy gave him $100 as a Christmas present, but instead of buying whatever he wanted, he spoiled her with a hairdryer and a makeup kit.

The pair had an unbreakable bond. "We were best friends and still are. She was everything: my coach, my mom, my teacher, and anything you could think of; it was deeper than just mom and son," Dak once expressed. In 2012, however, things took a heartbreaking turn.

Dak Prescott Lost Both His Mother and Brother

During the summer of 2012, a year before Dak enrolled at Mississippi State University, Peggy told him she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, and as she began losing hair, all her sons shaved their heads to show their support.

She supported her sons right back. She even attended Dak's games despite needing a wheelchair for mobility. Unfortunately, Peggy lost her battle with the disease in 2013. Her son, Jace, followed in 2020, dying by suicide.

Dak honored Peggy and Jace's memory on what would've been Peggy's 60th birthday, sharing photos and clips from their times together. The 30-year-old also started a foundation, Faith Fight Finish 4 (an ode to the words Peggy lived by), to help raise funds for cancer research.

Dak Prescott's Father, Nathaniel Prescott, Didn't Need to Make Himself Known

Before Dak joined the team, Nathaniel had long been a Dallas Cowboys fan. Hence, watching his son as the team's quarterback was a full-circle moment. "I am blushing now, and you just can't tell. I walk around in a glow; I've been a Cowboys fan my entire life," he gushed in 2017.

That year, he had moved from Austin, where he worked as a city bus driver, to Frisco, Texas, a few miles away from Dak. Although fans knew more of Peggy than they did of him, Nathaniel didn't feel the need to convince the world he was a present father.

"That's not my job. My child knew, and that was the main concern for me. First chance you have, ask him. There's never been anything estranged about our relationship at all. I am Pops," he proudly declared.

As for his relationship with Peggy, Nathaniel shared that they still had a date night every Wednesday despite being divorced.

The former lovebirds were scrutinized when their relationship began in the late 1970s. They were high school sweethearts who started dating in their senior year. Because they were an interracial couple, many looked down upon them.

Charles Barkley, Georg Brown, Chubby Checker, Sammy Davis Jr., and John Amos also faced similar problems with their partners.