An executive for the Dallas Cowboys has made a stunning revelation, crediting star quarterback Dak Prescott with saving his life after an early cancer diagnosis.
A Life-Saving Invitation
Tad Carper, the team's Senior Vice President of Communications, underwent surgery in October 2023 after being diagnosed with Stage 2 throat cancer. The 63-year-old has now entered full remission following the successful tumour removal and two months of radiation treatment. Doctors believe the risk of the cancer returning is very low.
Carper's journey to diagnosis began unexpectedly in the spring of 2024. Prescott, whose mother Peggy died from colon cancer in 2013, had established his 'Faith. Fight. Finish.' foundation to fund cancer research. At a foundation gala, then-head coach Mike McCarthy learned about early screening and asked Prescott about including it in the coaches' annual health checks.
"We got into training camp and he said, 'Hey let's get all the coaches tested.' And I said 'say less,'" Prescott recalled in an interview with ESPN. "Obviously understanding what I've been through with losing my mum to cancer and understanding how important early screening is, it was a no brainer."
The Crucial Screening and Diagnosis
After McCarthy arranged the screenings, Prescott extended an invitation to Carper, who works closely with the quarterback, to attend one of the sessions where spots were available. Carper accepted casually, thinking little of it.
"It's 7am one morning, and what else am I doing? I said, 'Sure, that'd be great. Thanks,'" Carper told ESPN. "I walked in, got tested. Super simple. Walked out and never thought about it again."
Roughly two weeks later, while at the Cowboys' headquarters, he received a life-altering phone call. The test was positive, indicating head or neck cancer. "The rest of the day after that call was a bit surreal. Everything slowed down," he admitted.
An Emotional Reckoning and Recovery
Carper immediately told Prescott the news, leading to a powerful moment between the two men. "Before I could get another word out of my mouth, we hugged it out and his first response was, 'We got it. I know we got it,'" Carper recounted. He told Prescott, "I think you just saved my life."
Carper is adamant he would never have sought screening on his own. Medical professionals later informed him that a delay of even two months could have led to a drastically different and more difficult prognosis.
Reflecting on the profound chain of events, Carper said, "God's plan for me to come to Texas. God's plan for me to work for the Cowboys with Dak Prescott leading to that moment."
For Prescott, the impact of his simple act is profound. "I don't know if it's something I could ever really put into words," he said. "I know how many people aren't fortunate of that, [so] to just play a part in it is more than enough."
