Thursday saw the passing away of a legend. Owner, president, and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones released an official statement mourning the loss of the team’s vice president and the original director of scouting, who passed at the age of 91. In retrospect, however, their relationship was not always this pleasant. 

Often considered the godfather of modern scouting, this NFL Pro Hall of Famer dedicated 29 years of his six-decade NFL executive career to the team and pioneered many technologically advanced scouting techniques used by NFL teams today.

Jones: “His Legacy will be celebrated forever”

“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,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on remembering the Cowboy Godfather, Gil Brandt’s contribution to not only the team but NFL at large. 

Ironically enough, when Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, he waived off the original triplet brain trust, coach Tom Landry Landry, general manager Tex Schramm, and Brandt, the trio that built the Dallas Cowboys into “America’s Team.”

However, Jones and Brandt later reconciled, and the latter was included in both the Ring of Honour (2018) and the Hall of Fame (2019). 

Under the guidance of Brandt, Dallas appeared in five championship games and emerged victorious in Super Bowls VI and XII. The team experienced a remarkable era of dominance spanning from 1966 to 1985, boasting an impressive streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons.

Contributions of the Pro Hall of Famer  

Under Brandt’s leadership, Dallas made it to five championship games and came out as champions in Super Bowls VI and XII. The team had an incredible run of success from 1966 to 1985, an era marked by an amazing streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons

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According to the Hall of Fame, Brandt is credited with being the “first person to incorporate computers for scouting and talent evaluations and the first individual to use psychological tests to evaluate the mental makeup of prospective players under pressure.”

Brandt also deserves credit for transforming the annual player draft into an engaging three-day event tailored for television audiences. Beyond that, he shared his extensive knowledge as an analyst for NFL.com and made valuable contributions through national radio broadcasts.

A man who had initially started off his professional career as a baby photographer before dedicating his life to improving a sport that he loved has left back an irreplaceable “generational impact.” Gil Brandt will be always remembered, in his wife Sara’s words, as someone who “loved life. He loved his family. And he loved football.” 

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