Solomon Thomas and Dak Prescott are teammates in every sense of the word.
When Thomas signed with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, it was a move that largely flew under the radar. The former third overall pick is now a journeyman defensive lineman playing for his fourth team since being drafted in 2017.
But the real story isn’t just on the field.
He and Prescott have long shared a bond. A bond shaped by grief, resilience, and a commitment to mental health advocacy. Now, they share a locker room.
Both men have taken personal loss and turned it into a public mission. They use their platforms to elevate conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
Solomon Thomas And Dak Prescott Share A Powerful Bond
Solomon Thomas
Oct 27, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas (94) takes a selfie with a fan before the start of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
A Shared Bond, A Shared Mission
Solomon Thomas and Dak Prescott are more than just teammates. They’re spiritual siblings whose paths converged in a devastating way.
For Thomas, it was the sudden and tragic loss of his big sister, Ella, in 2018. For Prescott, it was the death of his brother, Jace, two years later. Both died by suicide. Emerging from the rubble were two men who turned their pain into purpose, creating nonprofit foundations focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and ending the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In the aftermath of Ella’s death, Thomas co-founded The Defensive Line with his parents, Martha and Chris, in her honor. The organization works to end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially among young people of color, through education, mentorship, and access to crisis resources.
Prescott established Faith Fight Finish, a foundation originally built to honor his mother, Peggy, who passed away in 2013 after a lengthy battle with colon cancer—its work also honors his brother Jace. The foundation addresses mental health, colon cancer research, and community outreach. His work, like Thomas’, has helped push the conversation around athlete mental health into the spotlight.
Joining Forces For A Greater Cause
In 2023, their paths converged. The Defensive Line and Faith Fight Finish joined forces with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Vibrant Emotional Health, and the Crisis Text Line to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for a month-long initiative during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The partnership gave Thomas and Prescott a shared platform focused not on football, but on saving lives.
“I couldn’t have survived this journey without…mental health resources like Crisis Text Line and 988,” Thomas said. “You aren’t alone, there is help to guide you through this hard journey.”
“No matter what you’re going through, being able to share your thoughts and feelings is critical to your mental well-being,” said Prescott. “I had to deal with many emotions, but I learned how to cope through the amazing mental health support I received.”
Real Conversations, Real Impact
Their advocacy became even more visible when they spoke side by side at the Grant Halliburton Foundation’s Beacon of Hope Luncheon, a major event focused on mental health awareness. Both men spoke of the importance of having direct and honest conversations with those you believe are struggling.
How do young people talk about it? How does a teenager talk to someone whom they believe might be struggling with thoughts of suicide?
“Be a friend and talk about it,” Prescott said in response to that very question. “Ask, ‘how are you really doing?’ Pick at that fire.”
“Ask people not how they are doing, but how are you really doing?” Thomas echoed.
Prescott and Thomas, two men linked by tragedy, are a reminder that impact isn’t always measured in yards, sacks, or touchdowns.
Sometimes it’s measured in lives.
Building Something Legendary In Dallas
Joining the Cowboys is a homecoming of sorts for the Coppell High alum. Thomas says he always wanted to play close to home, but admits he wasn’t a Cowboys fan growing up. He was a Browns fan.
“My dad is from Ohio, so I unfortunately supported him through that,” he joked during an interview on Dallas’ second day of OTAs. “Coming into the league, I was hoping to play for anyone, but thought it would be amazing, sometime in my career, to play at home.”
He gets that chance now.
But returning to Dallas isn’t merely about geography. It’s a convergence of culture, mission, and opportunity—a chance to be a part of something bigger.
He’s joining a team whose head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, fully embraces player-driven leadership. Prescott is the unquestioned leader in the locker room, and his influence sets the tone for how the Cowboys operate. Micah Parsons is their most electric player and dynamic personality, and is the heartbeat of the defense. Thomas fits naturally into that dynamic. He’s not coming in as a savior or a star, but as a veteran presence with purpose and perspective. He knows what he brings, and he knows how to lead.
“I would say my biggest strength as a player…is my leadership and my intensity,” Thomas said. “I’m a guy who, how I do one thing is how I do everything [and] I’m going to showcase my leadership through effort and action.”
A Perfect Fit For The Cowboys’ Culture Change
On the field, Thomas projects as a rotational piece for Matt Eberflus along the defensive line. He’ll likely back up Osa Odighizuwa at the three-technique, with a chance at reps as an undersized one-technique in certain packages. But his true value may lie in how he mentors younger players in the locker room—guys like Mazi Smith and Sam Williams. He’s someone who understands the grind, knows how to be a professional, and doesn’t need the spotlight to make an impact.
In a lot of ways, Thomas is exactly the kind of player this new regime is looking for: a high-character veteran with a strong leadership presence, who will lead by example. His story, advocacy, and resilience aren’t just feel-good talking points. They’re traits that translate to tangible success.
This isn’t some comeback tour. It’s a continuation of a mission that started years ago, now unfolding under the bright lights of ‘Big D.’
More Than Teammates
Thomas and Prescott are teammates in every sense of the word, but their connection runs far deeper than what happens on the field.
Two men impacted by grief and defined by resilience, they are leaders who’ve turned profound personal loss into lasting public impact. Their stories are heartbreakingly similar, in both cause and effect: pain transformed into purpose, tragedy into advocacy. Together, they’re not just raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. They’re leading from the front, showing that strength is measured in emotional vulnerability and a willingness to speak out.
Now, both men share the same locker room.
In Thomas, the Cowboys get more than just depth, talent, or leadership. They gain a partnership rooted in compassion and a shared mission. On-field success is great. But the impact Thomas and Prescott make off of it will last far longer than any highlight reel.
In 2023, Thomas and his family were honored with the “Game Changer Award” at the Faith Fight Finish Foundation Gala. The award, presented by Prescott’s foundation, recognized their tireless advocacy and commitment to youth mental health and suicide prevention.
“The Thomas family is living proof that no matter the cards you’re dealt, it’s within your power to make the world a brighter place,” Prescott said during the presentation.
Solomon Thomas and Dak Prescott are now teammates in Dallas who get to do just that, together. They aren’t just building something legendary. They’re bringing light to those in the dark. They’re building something that saves lives.
Main Image: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports