Legendary architect of early Cowboys, Gil Brandt has passed away
Former Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt has passed away at the age of 91.
Brandt served as the vice president of player personnel for 28 years for the Cowboys and is a vital contributor to modern-day scouting.
✍️: https://t.co/BV062hhzC4 pic.twitter.com/DAgMgD7f8y
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) August 31, 2023
The NFL world and the Dallas Cowboys’ organization is mourning the loss of former vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt, who passed away Thursday morning at the age of 91. He worked for the Cowboys for 29 years and was part of their first two championships, Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Brandt helped transform the club from expansion franchise into “America’s Team” by thinking outside the box when it came to scouting football players. After stints with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, Brandt was hired as the Chief Talent Scout for the Cowboys’ inaugural season of 1960. He would go on to revolutionize the way NFL scouting departments operated by introducing the use of computers in his player evaluations. Even after his retirement, Brandt continued to contribute to the league in numerous ways, including work through the NFL’s media wing.
Among the many changes Brandt brought to the way the league operated, he and former team president Tex Schramm recommended the NFL hold an annual centralized scouting meeting which eventually became known as the NFL scouting combine.
The “Godfather of Scouting,” is responsible for drafting nine of the Cowboys 32 Hall of Fame players, and pulled several athletes from other sports over to football. Brandt also assisted team owner and general manager Jerry Jones in drafting quarterback Troy Aikman.
There are 19 players in the #Cowboys' Ring of Honor. Gil Brandt was involved in the acquisition of 15 of those players, as well as 9 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, per @ESPNStatsInfo. pic.twitter.com/pqapZJltKq
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 31, 2023
Jones shared his thoughts on Brandt’s legacy via the team website.
“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.”
