Dak Prescott stars in incredible colon cancer screening PSA

Eagles and 49ers catch strays in Dak Prescott’s new colon cancer screening PSA

Dak Prescott is having an incredible season this year. As the Dallas Cowboys head into a pivotal Week 14 showdown at home against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas passer has put himself firmly in the MVP mix, and has the Cowboys squarely in the playoff hunt.

But something he did this week might be even more important.

Prescott joined forces with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), and Ryan Reynolds’ creative agency, Maximum Effort, as part of their “Lead from Behind” campaign to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening. In this video, promoting Cologuard, an at-home colon cancer screening test, Reynolds provides the voiceover, while Prescott does the acting.

And the video leans into an absolutely incredible premise to nudge viewers towards taking this important screening step.

That’s right, “making your feelings absolutely clear,” in Prescott’s words:

That’s right, before providing your sample, simply slap a sticker of something you might “have issues” with on the bucket. Like for example “old timey prospectors” (i.e. the San Francisco 49ers) or “large American predatory birds” (i.e. the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Cowboys play this weekend) and then do what you need to do.

Of course, given that lawyers are always involved, that led to this incredible fine-print:

The PSA ends with a sticker of Reynolds on the bottom of a collection kit.

The importance of early screening regarding colon cancer, which according to the World Health Organization is the third-most common cancer worldwide, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, cannot be understated. When caught early, treatment for colon cancer is at its “most effective,” according to the Center for Disease Control, and routine screening is the “most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.”

This is also an issue deeply personal to Prescott. His mother, Peggy Prescott, passed away at 52 following a diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer. The QB continues to honor her each day, and when he finished his speech after accepting the Walter Peyton NFL Man of the Year Award last February, he paid tribute to her anew:

Simply put, this PSA will save lives. Beyond being an absolutely incredible campaign, it is vitally important.