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Jace Prescott, an older brother of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, passed away Thursday, the team announced during the NFL draft. He was 31.
“It is with great sadness and support that we share the news of the passing of Jace Prescott today,” the Cowboys’ statement read. “The loss of Tad and Dak’s brother is devastating. At this incredibly difficult time, the Prescott family asks only for prayers and respect for their privacy.”
Local outlets, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, have confirmed that Jace passed away at his home in Texas. No cause of death was listed.
“It’s the worst day of my life, all of our lives,” Prescott’s uncle, Phillip Ebarb, told the Star-Telegram. “We’re all freaking devastated.”
Though he never broke into the big leagues, Jace was a standout offensive lineman at Northwestern State (LA) from 2008-2010 — a literal standout, as he stood 6-foot-6 and weighed over 340 pounds, according to his school bio. Prescott joined the Demons program after attending Haughton High School in Louisiana.
“He was a great kid who dominated games,” his high school football coach, Rodney Guin, told the Shreveport Times. “He was a pleasure to coach—as were all the Prescott boys.”
Jace leaves behind father Nathaniel, brothers Dak and Tad, sister Natalie, and half-brother Elliott. Peggy Prescott, the family matriarch, died of colon cancer in 2013.
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Jerry Jones has Strong Words on ‘Time Frame’ to Sign Dak
The Cowboys’ starting QB has yet to agree on a long-term deal or sign his exclusive franchise tag, and, borrowing Jerry Jones’ verbiage, the 26-year-old putting pen to paper — in any capacity — doesn’t appear imminent.
To quote Jones’ actual thoughts, however, the Cowboys were prepared for such a scenario; not only Prescott’s apparent unwillingness to ink his tag but the financial ramifications of the placeholder pact.
“It’s not in a list of priorities, as you could imagine, with everything that we all are dealing with, as well as what we’re doing with the draft,” the Cowboys’ owner/general manager said Tuesday during his pre-draft conference call, via ESPN.com. “So I don’t have a time frame, but I’m not concerned about that at all as to any of those issues. And again, no surprises here; no surprises on the amount that the franchise counts against the [cap]; no surprise that we’re sitting here, relative to where we are, without a long-term agreement.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed Tuesday the worth of Prescott’s tag was misleadingly underreported until the restricted free-agent period signing period closed April 17. The “real number for Dak” has crystallized at $31.409 million for the 2020 campaign, roughly a $5 million increase from the previous figure ($26.824 million).
The Cowboys and Prescott have until July 15 to reach a multi-year accord. Failing that, the two-time Pro Bowler will be forced to play on the tag and resume negotiations in 2021.
“He’s our starting quarterback. Obviously he’s franchised and our bigger goal is to get him signed long term, and we think we can do that,” Dallas vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week.
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