In a Moment of Tragedy, Dak Prescott Showed the Kind of Strength Every Athlete Should Learn From.QQ
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback spoke about Marshawn Kneeland’s death for the first time.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the biggest advocates for mental health suicide prevention in the NFL. His wristband on game days always reads “Ask 4 Help,” which is also the name of a campaign he launched on suicide prevention. He openly talks about adversity in his life, including losing his mom to cancer and his older brother, Jace, to suicide.
All of this is why his first comments on Marshawn Kneeland’s death—which the Cowboys announced Thursday morning—carried particular weight. Prescott, the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year, shared a powerful message we can all learn from following the tragic news about the former defensive end.
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“It’s okay to feel however you’re feeling,” Prescott told CBS Sports Texas Thursday night. “And I’ll tell you first and foremost, I don’t always have the answers. And today is not a day that I felt like I had answers.
“Not a day that I have words other than I love you for friends and family, and people who may be struggling.”
Dak Prescott practicing what he preaches through his hurt for Marshawn Kneeland
It’s a simple message amid complicated times but an important one. And it’s one we can all learn something from. The slogan “Ask 4 Help” perfectly reflects what Prescott is talking about. It’s okay to not feel well, and no one should feel guilty for it nor for reaching out for help. Be it from friends, family, colleagues, or a therapist. It’s also okay to not have answers, even when you’re the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. No matter your position in life in terms of success, family, work: It’s okay not to be okay.
Tough circumstances like this also serve as an opportunity to reflect on mental health and how little importance it’s given compared to physical health. We go to the doctor when we feel something is wrong with our arm, our leg, or when he have a runny nose. But when our emotions are what feels off, therapy isn’t as automatic of a decision for most people. As a society we’re getting better in understanding this.
“It’s been a very tough day,” Prescott said. “Tragic loss. I hurt, Heavy, heavy heart today. I hurt for Marshawn, I hurt for his family, I hurt for his girlfriend, I hurt for every single one of my teammates. This is a pain that you don’t wish upon anybody. You wish none us had to go through this, you wish Marshawn didn’t have to go through what he went through.”
