Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who was praised for his dealings with local and national media during the previous season, has been selected as the 2026 Good Guy Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Prescott, the 22nd Good Guy Award winner, is the first member of the Cowboys franchise to win the award.
Other finalists for the Good Guy Award were Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio and Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III.
The Good Guy Award is given to an NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs. The award has been presented annually by the PFWA since 2005.
Prescott, a finalist for the Good Guy Award for the second time in the past three seasons (2024, 2026), is one of the more accessible players in the league, especially at the quarterback position. He fulfills his regular media obligations and then some, and he also chats with local media in an off-the-record format to provide context. The Dallas PFWA chapter named their local Good Guy award for Prescott – the chapter’s award recipient in 2017 and 2019 – starting with the 2025 presentation.
“Dak Prescott is one of the more accessible star players in the NFL. He talks once a week during the season and of course after every game. However, if Dak is needed for an off-the-record conversation, he’s there for you,” said Dallas PFWA chapter vice president and former PFWA president Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “Dak explains the game to you from a game plan standpoint and reviews certain plays if you ask. The trust he has with the beat writers is respected on both sides. He understands the job of reporters more than anybody.”
Prescott threw for 4,552 passing yards (third in the NFL and third in franchise history) as he completed 404 of 600 pass attempts. His 404 completions led the league, while the career-high 600 attempts were second in the NFL and second in team history. He had six 300-yard passing games, tied with Jared Goff for the most 300-yard games in the NFL. His 30 touchdown passes were fourth in the NFL, and it marked the fourth time he threw for 30 or more in a single season. Prescott also posted 10 multi-touchdown games, tied for third in the NFL and one shy of tying his career high.
GOOD GUY AWARD WINNERS (To a NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job) Year indicates when award was presented for previous season: 2005 – Jerome Bettis (Pittsburgh Steelers); 2006 – Tiki Barber (New York Giants); 2007 – LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers); 2008 – Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers); 2009 – Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals); 2010 – Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints); 2011 – Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers); 2012 – Tim Tebow (Denver Broncos); 2013 – Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons); 2014 – Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks); 2015 – Richard Sherman (Seattle Seahawks); 2016 – Thomas Davis (Carolina Panthers); 2017 – Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals); 2018 – Chris Long (Philadelphia Eagles); 2019 – Chris Long (Philadelphia Eagles); 2020 – Eli Manning (New York Giants); 2021 – Philip Rivers (Indianapolis Colts); 2022 – Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers); 2023 – Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles); 2024 – C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans); 2025 – Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles); 2026 – Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)