Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott mourned the loss of his brother Jace with his older brother TadDak Prescott and his brothers Jace and Tad. Photo:

Dak Prescott Instagram

Dak Prescott is his brothers’ keeper.

Growing up in a trailer in rural Louisiana, Dak and his siblings — brothers Tad and Jace — were especially close. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback spent countless hours tossing a football around with his older brothers and mother throughout his childhood.

Ultimately, it was Dak’s older brother, Jace, who made him want to play football. “When I was a little kid, he was the reason I first started throwing the football,” he told reporters in August 2020.

All About Dak Prescott’s Parents, Peggy and Nathaniel Prescott

The Prescott siblings have a strong bond, and within the last decade, they have navigated the deaths of their mother, Peggy Prescott, and their brother, Jace. In 2013, Peggy died of colon cancer and seven years later, Jace died by suicide.

Dak and Tad have since spoken out about their grief and supporting each other through their pain.

Here is everything to know about Dak Prescott’s siblings, Tad and Jace.

Dak is close with Tad and was close with JaceDak Prescott and his brothers Jace and Tad.

Dak Prescott Instagram

Dak and his brothers have been close since childhood. Peggy and Nathaniel Prescott welcomed Dak in 1993 — they were already parents to his older brothers, Tad and Jace.

The Prescott boys grew up in a rural trailer park in Louisiana. Nathaniel and Peggy were separated, and the three brothers grew up surviving on Peggy’s paychecks from her job running a truck stop. Things were tough for the family, but Dak has credited their early struggles with why they have such a special bond.

Their relationships were so strong that the NFL star has his brothers’ initials tattooed down the back of his arm. Dak also has a tattoo on his leg of a hyper-realistic moose in a nod to one of Jace’s nicknames.

The tattoos honoring his family don’t end with his brothers. Dak has several tattoos for his late mother, Peggy, but one is extra special. In 2023, he and Tad got matching Virgo constellation tattoos on what would have been Peggy’s 62nd birthday.

Dak’s older brothers were his heroes growing upDak Prescott and his brothers Jace and Tad.

Dak Prescott Instagram

In a 2021 interview with Sports Illustrated, eldest brother Tad shared how he and his brothers were competitive with one another as children. He recalled their infamous rollerblade races and how Dak always managed to come out on top.

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Some of the siblings’ favorite childhood memories include an incident where a hole was put in the wall after one of them tried to kill a spider by hitting it with a hammer and their endless Nerf battles.

His brother Jace died in 2020Dak Prescott and his brothers Jace and Tad.

Dak Prescott Instagram

Jace died by suicide in April 2020 — he was 31 years old.

Dak recalled that he got the news from his father. “I mean, obviously tears and tears and tears,” he told Graham Bensinger of his immediate reaction. “I mean, I sat there and tried to gather what had happened and wanted to ask why for so many reasons … and as much as you want to ask why, I know my brother, and he had a lot of burdens on him.”

The burdens Dak referenced were linked to their mother’s cancer treatment and how Jace was her primary caregiver. He had also played football at Northwestern State and loved his dog Goon, per his obituary.

Following Jace’s passing, Tad and Dak made a promise to be more open with one another. Dak has become a passionate advocate for mental health, so much so that people like Aaron Rodgers and Carson Daly have commented on his dedication to the cause.

Jace’s death encouraged Dak to open up about his mental health strugglesJace Prescott, Tad Prescott, Peggy Prescott, and Dak Prescott.

Dak Prescott Instagram

Losing a sibling during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic left Dak struggling with his mental health. He told Bensinger, “All throughout this quarantine and this offseason, I started experiencing emotions I’ve never felt before. Anxiety for the main one. And then, honestly, a couple of days before my brother passed, I would say I started experiencing depression.”

Jace’s memory kept Dak going through the hard times. “Because our adversities, our struggles, what we go through is always gonna be too much for ourselves and maybe too much for even one or two people, but never too much for a community or too much for people in the family that you love,” he concluded.

Dak started a charity in honor of his mom and brotherDak Prescott and Tad Prescott with members of Dak’s training camp.

Dak Prescott Instagram

Dak shared that the last words Peggy left him and his brothers with were faith, fight and finish so in honor of her and Jace, he started the Faith. Fight. Finish. Foundation.

According to a post on Instagram, there are four pillars of the foundation: “colon cancer research, mental health & suicide prevention, bridging the gap between law enforcement, youth and the communities they serve, and offering assistance to those facing life-challenging hardships.”

In May 2023, the foundation held a gala where Dak and Tad gave their aunt, Valerie “Nanny,” the foundation’s inaugural “Caregiver” award.

Tad is an “emotional wreck” at Dak’s gamesDak Prescott celebrates after defeating the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas.

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Dak has been dominating on the football field since his college days, but during his rookie season, his older brother Tad shared with the Dallas Morning News that he was both his biggest fan and scared of watching him play in the NFL.

“I don’t know if I’m excited or thrilled until there’s four zeroes on the clock and the game’s over and we have a W,” Tad said in 2017. “When he scores, if the camera could find me, I’m probably the one going craziest in the stadium. If there’s a turnover or something goes bad, I’m the one sitting there with my hands on my face, tugging on my necklace.”

Tad added, “I’m an emotional wreck for a football game, especially close ones.”

Tad made Dak an uncleDak Prescott and his niece Kennedy.

Dak Prescott Instagram

Tad married his wife, Holly Prescott, in 2023. The couple welcomed their first child, Mak, together in 2021, naming him after Jace whose middle name was Mackenzie. The couple also parent Holly’s daughter Addy.

When Mak was born, Dak posted photos on Instagram with his nephew. “You taught me that Love can be Instant the moment I laid eyes on you! I got you forever Mak ❤️,” the NFL player wrote in the caption.

Tad also has a daughter named Kennedy from a previous relationship. She is one of Dak’s biggest fans, telling Saturday Down South in 2017, “I’m proud of what he’s done, but not just because of what he’s done in the NFL. To me, he’s my uncle.”