Dallas Cowboys hero and iconic civil rights activist Pettis Norman dies at 86
The NFL franchise confirmed the news with a statement on Monday, which read: 'We mourn the passing of former tight end and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman.
'Known for his selfless leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to creating equal opportunity, we were incredibly proud and grateful to share his remarkable story recently'.
Norman was selected by the Dallas Texans in the 2962 AFL Draft however never played for the side. He eventually joined the Cowboys as a free agent.
The former tight end spent nine seasons with the franchise and - across 121 games - recorded 124 catches, 14 touchdowns and over 1,600 receiving yards.
Away from the football pitch, Norman was also an entrepreneur and a civil rights activist. He influenced the changing of the team's roommate assignments and helped break social barriers.
He also founded the Dallas Together Forum, which worked alongside Dallas CEOs to improve minority hiring.
He also once sued the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers over 'medical negligence' regarding the handling of an injured knee.
A family statement read: '[Norman] passed away peacefully in his sleep... surrounded by his loving wife, daughters, grandson, and great grandchildren.
'A strong advocate for civil rights and dedicated to creating opportunities for all, Mr. Norman was a respected business executive and civic leader, known widely for his accomplishments both on and off the field.
'He leaves behind a legacy of selfless leadership, advocacy on behalf of underserved people, and a deep commitment to his community.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Grand Canyon University's move to the Mountain West has been accelerated. Lopes to compete this fall
Grand Canyon University announced Tuesday its move to the Mountain West Conference will begin immediately. The school in Phoenix was initially scheduled to transition from the Western Athletic Conference to its new league on July 1, 2026. The Mountain West offered an earlier transition, however, allowing the school to compete for conference championships this fall. "The addition of Grand Canyon for the 2025-26 academic year is a significant win for the student-athletes at GCU and in the Mountain West,' conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement. Grand Canyon will be one of 14 schools competing in the conference next season. The accelerated transition comes after five Mountain West schools announced they intend to depart the conference and join the Pac-12 in 2026. Those schools are Utah State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State. 'Grand Canyon brings elite recruiting, a passionate fanbase, and state-of-the-art facilities, elevating the Mountain West's competitiveness and national profile," Nevarez said. "In a time when the student-athlete experience is of utmost importance, we felt it was in the best interest to allow them to compete for conference championships and the NCAA postseason immediately.' Seventeen varsity teams will compete in the Mountain West, including men's and women's basketball which have been in the national spotlight in recent years during the NCAA Tournament. Grand Canyon's historically successful men's volleyball team was cut in April. 'GCU is excited for this opportunity for our student-athletes, the Havocs and our fanbase,' GCU athletic director Jamie Boggs said. 'After winning 76 conference championships, this opportunity best positions GCU to be nationally competitive, and we are excited about the vision and future of the Mountain West." ___
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Bryan Kohberger's classmates expose warped 137-page manifesto that may be biggest clue yet about his REAL motive
Before he murdered four students in a 13-minute stabbing spree, Bryan Kohberger had spent four years studying the actions, minds and motives of some of the most depraved killers inside a classroom at DeSales University. Among them was a man named Elliot Rodger.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tense scene as NYPD officer grabs woman attempting bridge jump
A New York Police Department (NYPD) officer rescued a woman attempting to jump from the RFK Bridge. Footage released by the police force on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, shows the officer intervening. The officer ran towards the woman, who was scaling the railing, shouting commands. He successfully pulled her off the fence, preventing her from jumping. Watch the video in full above.
