Dak Prescott, born Rayne Dakota Prescott on July 29, 1993, in Sulphur, Louisiana, is the son of Nathaniel and Peggy Prescott. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was primarily raised by his mother alongside his two older brothers, Thaddeus “Tad” and Jace Prescott, though he maintained a close relationship with his father.
Here’s a closer look at Dak Prescott’s family:
#1. Dak Prescott Grew Up in a Three-Bedroom Trailer With His Mother & His Older Brothers
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Dak Prescott’s parents, Peggy and Nathaniel “Nat” Prescott, started dating as high school seniors in 1979. Peggy, the daughter of a high school principal, raised Dak and his two older brothers in a close-knit family in rural Louisiana. Nat, a former Grambling State football player, remained involved in his kids’ lives despite the divorce.
Dak grew up in a trailer park and learned football with his brothers. His mother, a huge football fan, was everything to him. “We were best friends and still are,” Dak said. Peggy worked at a truck stop diner and, despite financial struggles, often took in Dak’s friends who needed a place to stay. “She never turned her back on anyone,” her brother Phillip shared.
#2. Dak Prescott’s Parents Were Divorced & He Lived With His Mother But He Was Close With Both of Them
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Dak Prescott had a close bond with both his parents, but he was especially close to his mother. His older brother Tad revealed that Dak slept in the same room as their mother until college, even though their trailer had three bedrooms. “They were that close,” Tad told ESPN. After Peggy’s death in 2013, Dak said, “Everything I do is for her.”
Though less public, Dak’s relationship with his father, Nat, is also strong. Nat, a former driver in the oil fields and a bus driver, remained close to his kids after the divorce. “Peggy and I divorced, but that didn’t separate my relationship with my kids,” Nat shared. Now living in Frisco, Nat helps Dak with things like watching his dogs. “We’ve always had a tight relationship, and he’s always been there for me,” Dak said.
#3. Dak Prescott’s Mother Died in 2013 After a Battle With Colon Cancer & He Has Often Paid Tribute to Her Strength
Dak Prescott’s mother, Peggy, passed away on November 3, 2013, at the age of 52 after battling stage four colon cancer. She told Dak about her diagnosis in the summer of 2012, just before he started at Mississippi State. Despite her illness, Peggy continued attending his games, even in a wheelchair. Dak and his brothers shaved their heads in solidarity when she lost her hair to chemotherapy.
“I learned so many lessons from watching my mom fight colon cancer,” Dak said. “Toughness, mental toughness, and never showing weakness were key.”
After her passing during his sophomore year, Dak honored his mother’s wishes by continuing to play football, earning MVP at the Liberty Bowl and a spot on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. He still pays tribute to her by pointing to the sky after touchdowns and wearing number 4 in honor of her September 4th birthday.
“I remember her telling me, ‘Let me be your story,’” Dak shared. “Her fight inspired me to raise awareness about cancer and turn adversity into motivation.”
#4. Dak Prescott Grew Up With 2 Older Brothers, Tad & Jace, Who Both Played Football
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Dak Prescott is the youngest of three brothers: Tad and Jace. Jace Prescott, born on May 10, 1988, attended Northwestern State University, where he majored in psychology and played as an offensive lineman until injuries ended his football career. His former teacher, Jamie Gressett, fondly remembered him as “a sweet, quiet guy” who once said, “My name is Jace Prescott, and my favorite color is pink.”
Tad Prescott, who also played football, shared in an interview that the brothers were highly competitive. He hosts the podcast “U Don’t Know Me Yet,” though no new episodes have been released since May 2022. Tad married Holly Prescott in March 2023, and they have a son, Jace McKenzie Prescott II, nicknamed Mak, born in February 2021. Tad also has a daughter, Kennedy, who shares a close bond with her uncle Dak. “I’m proud of what he’s done,” she said, “but to me, he’s just my uncle.”
