Gil Brandt, the chief talent scout and a former vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, has died at the age of 91.
Brandt spent over two decades in Dallas and revolutionized modern scouting within the NFL.
During the course of his career with the Cowboys, he helped the team win Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII.
His importance to scouting landed him in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2018 and the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame in 2019.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the man who fired Brandt in 1989 released a statement when his death was announced.
Gil Brandt, a revolutionary talent scout for the Dallas Cowboys, has died at the age of 91
‘We are so deeply saddened by the passing of Gil Brandt – a true icon and pioneer of our sport,’ Jones’ statement read.
‘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.’
Brandt was a scouting pioneer – creating the NFL combine and being among the first to use computer technology and psychological testing in the evaluation of football prospects
Later in his life, he transitioned into NFL media through different radio and writing jobs
Among the many scouting developments Brandt is credited with, some of the most notable include his role in the creation of the NFL Scouting Combine, the use of computers to evaluate talent, and implementing psychological tests to identify a prospects’ personality and mental acuity.
He was also known for developing a new scouting and evaluation process for prospects, which became standard in the league.
With the Cowboys, Brandt made his name by taking risks on lower-round talent and picking them based on pure potential – such as Roger Staubach and Herschel Walker.
He also picked up gems in the undrafted free agent market like Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris, and Everson Walls.
Brandt was one of the first scouts to look outside the US and Canada for talent and found numerous top players who competed in sports other than football.
After stops with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, Brandt made his way to Dallas in 1960 and stayed there until his dismissal in May of 1989.
Brandt spent a number of years outside of football, but transitioned into media as a writer for NFL.com and as a voice on NFL radio.
