Dak Prescott explains investing in Major League Pickleball's Frisco Pandas

Dak Prescott invested in what he loved. So now the Cowboys quarterback can make money off of pickleball as he becomes one of the latest star athletes to buy into a franchise.

News broke a week ago that he joined the trick-shot team Dude Perfect in purchasing the Frisco Pandas, a franchise in fledgling Major League Pickleball. The league is about to finish the first part of its season with a tournament in San Clemente, Calif. The next competitive part of the year starts in September.

So tell us, Dak Prescott, why pickleball?

“I love pickleball, I do,” he said during a media availability Wednesday night after a mini-camp practice.

“You know what’s crazy, man, I was told about pickleball, maybe my rookie year, was told I needed to invest,” the quarterback said. “I missed that gig. But I’ve been playing it that long. I’ve known about it that long, fell in love with it a year ago. Yes, it’s a fun game, it’s great for my footwork. Very, very challenging. I’m excited to partner up with Dude Perfect and on the team.”

So what might his role on the team be? General manager? Player coach? Money guy who sits in the suites?

“I won’t be the Jerry Jones of them, I can tell you that,” Dak Prescott says. “I’ll let Dude Perfect and them handle it and let them tell me what my role is on the team.”

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— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 8, 2023

Pickleball QBs include Dak Prescott, Tom Brady, Drew Brees

So put a TBD by Dak Prescott’s name when it comes to his new investment. But he’s certainly not the top pro athlete to enjoy a taste of pickleball ownership. Did you know that Tom Brady threw in some money to buy a team last year? This was before he started the process to buy a minority stakes in two Las Vegas franchises — the Raiders in the NFL and the Aces in the WNBA.

“Look, I’ve been trying to find a way to extend my professional sports career beyond my 40s,” Brady said in a video posted to Instagram last fall. “Even in my 50s, 60s, 70s. As long as I can, right? And I think I got the answer. Seems like everybody else has the answer too. Pickeball.”

CBS Sports pointed out that other owners include Kim Clijsters, a former tennis world No. 1, and Drew Brees, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback. Plus, LeBron James, Draymond Green and Kevin Love became pickleball investors. It makes so much financial sense (or cents, right?) Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, with 8.9 million participants as of 2022.

Of course, Dak Prescott’s main priority is quarterbacking the Cowboys. Pickleball is his fun-loving side hustle.