Pettis Norman, a trailblazing 12-year NFL veteran who spent nearly all of his profession with the Dallas Cowboys, has died on the age of 86.
Norman spent 9 years with the Cowboys and was on the franchise’s first staff to succeed in a Super Bowl — a Tremendous Bowl V loss to the Baltimore Colts. Norman, who performed his remaining three seasons with the San Diego Chargers, served within the Texas Military Nationwide Guard throughout his first seven NFL seasons.
Norman was famend for his work as a civil rights advocate. Within the Nineteen Nineties, he based the Dallas Collectively Discussion board, an initiative that labored with Dallas CEOs to enhance minority hiring and awarding of contracts to girls and minority-owned companies by Dallas firms.
“We mourn the passing of former tight finish and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman,” the Cowboys stated Monday. “Identified for his selfless management, dedication to group, and dedication to creating equal alternative, we have been extremely proud and grateful to share his outstanding story not too long ago.”
Norman’s work as a civil rights advocate started in school when he was a part of lunch counterprotests in an effort to assist promote integration. On the sector, Norman’s success at Johnson C. Smith College in Charlotte was observed by Cowboys scout Gil Brandt, who would go on to be inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Norman was drafted within the sixteenth spherical of the 1962 AFL Draft by the Dallas Texans, however Brandt was in a position to signal Norman to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.
In Dallas, Norman helped satisfied Cowboys Corridor of Fame coach Tom Landry to now not assign resort rooms based mostly on race. Off the sector, Norman turned the primary Black official at a financial institution in Dallas.
“Pettis inspired the entire gamers to open up financial institution accounts,” former Cowboys operating again Calvin Hill said. “He inspired us to ascertain credit score. He inspired us to get entangled in the neighborhood.”
Norman additionally loved profitable careers within the enterprise and broadcast worlds.
“I attempted to do no matter I might do assist change the sorts of issues that society had operated below for such a very long time,” Norman stated.
As a participant, Norman averaged a powerful 13.6 yards per catch throughout his NFL profession. In 1970, he began in every of the Cowboys’ video games whereas serving to the franchise seize its first NFC title.
Norman’s impression — each on and off the sector — with the Cowboys was evident when Landry traded him to the Chargers previous to the beginning of the 1971 season. Landry personally visited with Norman (who was working on the financial institution) to tell him of the information.
“He got here in … we sat down and simply chatted for a few seconds or so,” Norman recalled. “He stated, ‘I’ve needed to do essentially the most troublesome factor I’ve ever needed to do in soccer. … I’ve needed to contain you in a commerce. And let me simply let you know, that is essentially the most troublesome commerce.'”
Whereas his time with the Cowboys ended that day, Norman’s impression inside and out of doors of Dallas continues to be felt to at the present time. His alma mater, for instance, has named its most prestigious sports activities award the Pettis Norman Male and Feminine Athlete of the Yr Award in his honor.