Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dak Prescott

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Dak Prescott made an impact.

Rayne Dakota "Dak" Prescott is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He played college football at Mississippi State, earning All-SEC honors twice, before being drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Prescott is currently ranked among the top ten quarterbacks in NFL history in both completion percentage and passer rating.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1952: Tied School Record

In 2015, during the game against Arkansas, Dak Prescott tied a school record set by Jackie Parker in 1952, with six touchdowns in a single contest.

1966: Touchdown Record Comparison

In 1966, Don Meredith achieved a similar feat to Dak Prescott, compiling seven touchdown passes in the first two regular-season games for the Dallas Cowboys.

1966: Longest Pass Connection Record

In 1966, Don Meredith and Bob Hayes had a 95-yard connection, which was a franchise record until Prescott's 92-yard pass in 2023.

October 5, 1969: First Perfect Passer Rating Since 1969

In the season-opening game against the New York Giants in 2019, Dak Prescott achieved a perfect passer rating, becoming the first Dallas quarterback to accomplish this feat since Craig Morton on October 5, 1969.

2001: First Rookie Start Since 2001

On September 11, 2016, Dak Prescott became the first rookie to start at quarterback for the Cowboys since Quincy Carter in 2001.

2009: First Quarterback Selected Since 2009

In 2016, Dak Prescott was the first quarterback selected by the Cowboys since the 2009 NFL draft.

2010: District 1-AAAA Champions

In 2010, as a senior at Haughton High School, Dak Prescott led his team, the Buccaneers, to become the 2010 District 1-AAAA Champions. He had a successful season, passing for 2,860 yards and 39 touchdowns, and rushing for 951 yards and 17 touchdowns.

2011: Redshirted at Mississippi State

In 2011, Dak Prescott was redshirted as a true freshman with Mississippi State.

2012: Backup Quarterback

In 2012, Dak Prescott served as a backup to Tyler Russell at Mississippi State, playing in 12 games and showcasing his skills with both passing and rushing touchdowns.

2013: Named Liberty Bowl MVP

In 2013, Dak Prescott became the starting quarterback for Mississippi State after Tyler Russell's injury, leading the team to a 44-7 victory over the Rice Owls in the Liberty Bowl, where he was named MVP. His performance that season set several records and earned him a spot on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2014: Breaks 10 school records.

In 2014, Dak Prescott led the Bulldogs to a 10-2 regular season record and broke 10 school records. He also garnered several accolades throughout and following the season.

2015: Joins elite group of FBS players

In 2015, Dak Prescott became the fourth player in FBS history to pass for 60 touchdowns and rush for 40 touchdowns in a career. He also set school and SEC records, earning numerous national awards and recognition.

2016: Record-Breaking Rookie Season

In 2016, Dak Prescott set several rookie records including 11 games with over 100 passer rating, a 104.9 NFL passer rating, a 0.87% interception rate, a 5.75 touchdown to interception ratio, and a 67.76% pass completion percentage.

2016: Rookie Season

In 2016, Dak Prescott started all 16 games as a rookie, achieving impressive stats with 3,667 passing yards, 282 rushing yards, 29 total touchdowns, and only four interceptions. His completion percentage ranked fourth among NFL quarterbacks.

2016: Named Cowboys Starter

In 2016, Dak Prescott was named the Cowboys' starting quarterback after Tony Romo suffered an injury during the preseason.

2016: Drafted by Dallas Cowboys

In 2016, Dak Prescott was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

2017: Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Following his standout rookie season, Dak Prescott was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 and selected to the Pro Bowl. He was also ranked 14th on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2018: Third Professional Season

During his third professional season in 2018, Dak Prescott experienced both wins and losses, showcasing his skills with notable performances, including a career-high 455 passing yards against the Philadelphia Eagles and leading the Cowboys to win the NFC East for the second time in three years.

2019: NFC Offensive Player of the Week

In 2019, Dak Prescott was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time after a standout performance against the Detroit Lions, where he passed for 444 yards and four total touchdowns.

March 16, 2020: Franchise Tag

On March 16, 2020, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Dak Prescott, valuing it at $31.4 million for the 2020 season.

June 22, 2020: Tender Signed

On June 22, 2020, Dak Prescott signed the tender for the franchise tag placed on him by the Cowboys.

October 19, 2020: Injured Reserve Placement

On October 19, 2020, Dak Prescott was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation to his right ankle in Week 5.

2020: Season Statistics and Ranking

In 2020, Dak Prescott concluded the season with 4,902 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, and was ranked 46th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list, despite the Cowboys missing the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

March 9, 2021: Franchise Tag and Contract Extension

On March 9, 2021, The Cowboys placed the exclusive franchise tag on Dak Prescott for the second consecutive season. The next day, he signed a four-year contract extension with the Cowboys for $160 million with $126 million guaranteed.

June 2021: Signs with Jordan Brand

In June 2021, Dak Prescott signed a five-year deal with Jordan, leaving Adidas.

2022: Divisional Round Loss and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

In 2022, The Cowboys lost 19-12 against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. However, Dak Prescott won the 2022 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

2022: Wild Card Round Loss and NVP Award

In 2022, despite a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round, Dak Prescott was named NVP (Nickelodeon Valuable Player), though his team lost the game.

2023: Regular Season and Playoff Performance

In 2023, Dak Prescott led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns and finished second in NFL MVP voting, but the Cowboys suffered a significant loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round.

2023: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

In 2023, Dak Prescott was ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2023: Lamar Jackson Contract

In 2023, Lamar Jackson signed a contract with the Baltimore Ravens that surpassed Dak Prescott's previous signing bonus record.

September 8, 2024: Contract Extension

On September 8, 2024, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys reached an agreement for a four-year contract extension worth $240 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history with an average of $60 million per year.