Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (left) and Miguel Mendez pose for a photo during a fishing trip on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Port Aransas, Texas. Mendez got the opportunity to fish with Prescott after winning AT&T’s “Have a Catch” sweepstakes.
Courtesy of AT&TMiguel Mendez has been a fan of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for a long time. Watching Prescott inspired him in his soccer career at Alvarado High School. Seeing Prescott’s leadership ability made him want to be a leader for his team, as well. Witnessing Prescott overcome multiple season-ending injuries in his career and keep going taught Mendez that he, too, could push through hard times.
After this past weekend, Mendez is not only a fan of Prescott the quarterback, but Prescott the person, too.
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Mendez, 19, joined Prescott and his brother, Tad, for a day of fishing in Port Aransas on Saturday morning. The experience happened after Mendez was the lucky winner of AT&T’s “Have a Catch” sweepstakes. When it was all said and done, Mendez won in another way, too. They both caught black drum — two keepers, Prescott said — but it was Mendez who caught the biggest one. They even spent longer out on the water than scheduled as Prescott tried to catch a bigger one, but to no avail.
“I’d like to believe that he was actually enjoying his time there and he wanted to spend more time out there,” Mendez said with a chuckle. “To me, it was truly special.”
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Don’t worry, Miguel. It was special to Prescott, too.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (left) and Miguel Mendez pose for a photo during a fishing trip on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Port Aransas, Texas. Mendez got the opportunity to fish with Prescott after winning AT&T’s “Have a Catch” sweepstakes.
Courtesy of AT&TSaturday’s fishing trip fell right between a busy time for Prescott. He and his teammates had worked out at the team facility in Frisco prior to the trip. On Monday, they started organized team activities. The window, albeit small, was perfect for a getaway. It’s why Prescott was thrilled when AT&T wanted to combine meeting a fan with one of his favorite activities.
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“Just being out there on the open water with Miguel and my brother as well and the whole crew at AT&T, my mind was just there,” Prescott said. “My mind is usually, majority of the time, wherever my feet are, so it was great to be out there on the boat and just get away. Obviously a lot’s going on, like you said, whether it’s OTAs or just personal life. Before I hit the field Monday, this was a much needed break.”
Prescott’s perspective is relatable. Mendez has also seen fishing as a getaway; a time to relax. Mendez, admittedly, wasn’t very relaxed when the trip started.
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Mendez didn’t even expect to win the sweepstakes.
“I knew that Dak is a superstar athlete, and AT&T is a huge company,” Mendez said. “When you combine those two things, a lot of people join and a lot of people sign up for it.”
He bet if you asked thousands of people if they’ve ever won a competition like this, most would say no. He hadn’t until AT&T called him and told him he had won.
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It didn’t feel real for Mendez for a while. Then, after they arrived in Port Aransas, the nerves grew. They lasted until he met Prescott. Immediately, Mendez said Prescott made him comfortable. He quickly showed Mendez pictures of other fish he had caught. Soon, they were on the boat, talking like they knew each other.
“Talking to him, it’s like you’re talking to a best friend,” Mendez said. “You forget he’s a celebrity.
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“It was so calm. He can keep a conversation going and I was actually … able to use it as an escape. Just talking to him, I forgot everything. I forgot where I was. I forgot what I was there for. I forgot I had won a sweepstakes and I thought I was just there with my best friend on a fishing trip.”
AT&T had Prescott’s interest when they said fishing. But getting to know people is something Prescott enjoys, as well. Prescott has done multiple events and worked with multiple foundations where getting to know people comes with the territory.
“When I truly get to connect with somebody, ask them questions, learn about their parents or their background or where they came from, or how many brothers and sisters they have — I know all those things, that’s what makes me who I am. So when I get to find that about other people, you get to know them.
“It’s actually a real connection.”
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (right) and Miguel Mendez pose for a photo during a fishing trip on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Port Aransas, Texas. Mendez got the opportunity to fish with Prescott after winning AT&T’s “Have a Catch” sweepstakes.
Courtesy of AT&T
And a day Mendez will never forget.
“People look at him on the field. They see who he is on the field, and I got to meet him outside the field,” Mendez said. “I got to meet him in his Dak self and there’s two ways I see him now: I see the superstar athlete that I look up to, but I also see a best friend who I shared things with and I got to meet and know a little more about.”