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Dallas Cowboys honor Gil Brandt in AT&T Stadium before home opener

DSprofileby:Dustin Schutte•09/17/23•

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gil brandt
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys took time prior to their home opener to honor Gil Brandt on Sunday afternoon. The former NFL executive died in August at the age of 91.

Dallas hosted the New York Jets on Sunday in its Week 2 contest. It was the first game at AT&T Stadium in the 2023 regular season. The following message was posted on the team’s jumbotron before the opening kickoff:

Brandt was a legendary executive in the NFL, spending a majority of his career with the Cowboys organization. He started with the Los Angeles Rams as a talent scout in 1955 and worked with the team through 1957.

He then worked for the San Francisco 49ers in 1958 and 1959 before joining the Cowboys organization in 1960. Brandt then worked for the team through 1988. While working in Dallas, Brandt was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

Since Brandt’s retirement, he’s been inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In addition to the pre-game honor, Dallas also sported special helmet stickers for Sunday’s game against the Jets.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones releases statement on Gil Brandt

After learning of Brandt’s passing, Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones released a heartfelt statement.

“We are so deeply saddened by the passing of Gil Brandt – a true icon and pioneer of our sport,” Jones wrote, via the team website. “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.”