Who was Gil Brandt the longtime Dallas Cowboys executive who died at 91 years old?

From his knowledge of the game to his decision to usher in an era of greater racial cohesion, the longtime Cowboys exec was both good at his job and a good person. Needless to say, his impact on the sport was profound.

Gil Brandt revolutionized the NFL

The NFL was dealt a blow on Thursday after reports confirmed the passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt, the Dallas Cowboys’ first vice president of player personnel from 1960-1988. If that name sounds familiar, it’s likely because of the fact that Brandt holds a special place in Cowboys lore. Indeed, it was he who helped transform the team from an expansion franchise in 1960 to one of the NFL’s most recognizable names today. He was 91 years old. Alongside then-head coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm, Brandt’s tenure included five Super Bowl appearances, two championships, and 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966 to 1985. The two titles were courtesy of a Super Bowl VI victory over the Miami Dolphins (24-3) and a Super Bowl XII win over the Denver Broncos (27-10).

To reiterate, it was Brandt who helped to take the NFL’s scouting sector to the next level, by introducing the use of computers and algorithms when it came to the player evaluation process. To that end, he oversaw the draft selection of Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach (the 129th pick in the 1964 NFL Draft, 10th round) and the undrafted free agency signings of Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson, defensive back Cliff Harris (1970), and the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist Everson Walls.

Gil Brandt remembered

Testament to not just his effect but his character were the words of remembrance offered by the aforementioned Walls, who in fact cited Brandt as being one of the first NFL evaluators to take a serious look at historically black colleges or universities (HBCU) as potential sources of talent for the NFL. This of course makes perfect sense as Walls (Grambling State), along with Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) were two of his biggest finds from his HBCU scouting. Further punctuating that point was Brandt’s hand in the Cowboys making defensive lineman Ed “Too Tall” Jones the first No. 1 overall draft pick from an HBCU, Tennessee State, in the 1974 NFL Draft.

“The HBCUs were major for the Cowboys,” Walls said Thursday. “The great Bob Hayes, these are the kinds of guys that Gil Brandt was out there looking [scouting], he wasn’t just standing around, just picking things out of the air. He did a good job of scouting, and he understood what we brought to the table. I don’t know if he knew I was going to make the team, but he signed me. That’s a feather in his cap.” As one can imagine, Brandt’s relationship with some of those players only improved as the years passed, something that Walls openly acknowledged. “I told him he was trying to get to heaven in his old age, but he always liked that joke,” Walls said of his more friendly relationship with Brandt later in life. “He did a good job in doing those last days and last years of really elevating HBCUs just as he did in those early years when he recruited us for his team.”

Jerry Jones represented the end for Gil Brandt

Despite his clear worth, it’s got to be said that Jerry Jones’ acquisition of the franchise in 1989 essentially brought an end to Brandt’s time with the franchise. Now, while it’s to be expected that a regime change means both staff and players may be moved on, a case could be made for the idea that Brandt should have been treated better. That being said, Jones did in fact honor Brandt while he was still alive by introducing him into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2018. Incidentally, Brandt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame just one year later in 2019.

“I’m so glad that Jerry was able to do that for him and for his family because that transition from the old school versus the new school, meaning the Tex Schramm days versus the Jerry Jones days, that transition was kind of tough for everyone,” Walls said. “The fact that he was kind of embraced in that manner, I think that did a lot for him during his last days.”

Jerry Jones remembers Gil Brandt

Following confirmation of Brandt’s death on Thursday, Jones actually released a statement in which he honored Brandt’s life and contribution to the Cowboys:

“We are so deeply saddened by the passing of Gil Brandt - a true icon and pioneer of our sport. Gil was at the very core of the early success of the Dallas Cowboys and continued to serve as a great ambassador for the organization for decades beyond that. His contributions cemented his spot in the Ring of Honor. He was my friend and a mentor not only to me, but to countless executives, coaches, players and broadcasters across the National Football League, which rightfully earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame where his legacy will be celebrated forever.

He was an innovator and set the standard for excellence in player acquisition. From the creation of the NFL Combine to revolutionizing the NFL Draft, Gil finished his over six-decade NFL career with an eye towards the future of the league and teaching fans about the sport he loved as a radio broadcaster. Gil was as good a storyteller as it gets, with a memory as sharp as a tack. His dedication to, and passion for, this game left a lasting impact on generations of Hall of Fame players and coaches. There are very few people that have been able to have the kind of generational impact that he did. Gil was as dedicated to growing this league and sport as anyone ever was, and we are all grateful and better for it. Our hearts go out to Gil’s wife, Sara, his son Hunter and all of Gil’s family and friends.”