Cowboys star could make history as he’s nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

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The accolades keep rolling in for Dak Prescott.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback is one of eight finalists in the running for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

The award established in 2014 after the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers recognizes outstanding sportsmanship on the field.

It’s another feather in the cap for Prescott, who’s putting together a spectacular season, on and off the field.

Earlier this month, the Cowboys pivot was the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Prescott took home that award a year ago.

If he can do it again in 2023, he’d be the first player in NFL history to capture that trophy on consecutive occasions.

Meanwhile, his sparkling performances on the field has the Cowboys positioned to capture the NFC East.

As a result Prescott’s in a solid position to claim the MVP award at the NFL Honors.

Dallas’ QB ranks fourth in the NFL for passing with a league-leading 28 touchdown throws.

He also has the second-best passer rating (107.5) behind Brock Purdy (116.9).

Dak’s thrown the second-fewest interceptions (six), all of which could lead to him also being on the ballot for Offensive Player of the Year.

In November, Prescott captured the Offensive Player of the Month, throwing 16 touchdown passes and only one interception in five contests.

A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community chose the eight finalists from the 32 club nominees.

That panel included Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler.

Prescott and the other seven nominees will be on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category.

Fitzgerald, a former First-team All-Pro wideout with the Arizona Cardinals, spoke to NFL.com about the selection process.

“I have enjoyed the process of learning about the men that have been nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award,” said Fitzgerald.

“Each nominee has displayed the character of Mr. Rooney’s legacy. The award represents teamwork, competitiveness, hard work and integrity, while on the field.”

This year’s finalists feature four players from each conference in line to claim the award.

On the AFC side, the list of nominees includes Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders), Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers), C.J. Mosley (New York Jets) and Kevin Zeitler (Baltimore Ravens).

After Prescott, the other players in the NFC mix are Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals), Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers), and Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks).

It’s the fourth straight season that Juszczyk is a finalist for the award.

Crosby meanwhile is on the shortlist for the second successive year.

In 2022, the award went to Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell.

On the nine previous occasions that the trophy was handed out, only two times has a quarterback taken home the award, with Teddy Bridgewater winning in 2020 while with the Carolina Panthers and former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees earning it in 2018.

Should the award go to Dak, he would make history by becoming the first Dallas Cowboy player to claim the honor.