Dak Prescott has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. However, it's not just his production, but the way Prescott plays the game with respect and dignity that has set him apart from his peers.

In 2014, the NFL established the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award to honor the Pittsburgh Steelers' founding owner and Pro Football Hall of Famer. It's given each year to the player that best exhibits values such as integrity and fair play on the field.

Prescott has been named the Cowboys nominee for the award in 2022.

Executive vice president Troy Vincent on the nominees and what the Rooney Award represents:

“These Rooney Sportsmanship nominees exemplify the fiercest competition combined with the excellence of sportsmanship, said Troy Vincent, EVP of Football Operations of the NFL. “It reflects the very values of respect, resilience, and fairness that inspire both teammates and opponents to be the best in the world.”

Prescott has a chance to be the first Cowboys player to have this honor bestowed upon him. Prescott would join future Hall of Famers Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, and Larry Fitzgerald as well as 2021 inductee Charles Woodson if he is chosen.

A panel of former players that includes Warrick Dunn, the aforementioned Fitzgerald, and Hall of Famer Curtis Martin will narrow the list down to eight finalists, four from the NFC and four for the AFC. Their names will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award tab in December when players can vote for the winner.

The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors during Super Bowl week in February.

Quarterbacks are the faces of NFL franchises and are expected to uphold the highest standards on and off the field. Prescott is a shining of that, and it's no surprise that he's being recognized for it.

Feature image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports