Gilbert Harvey Brandt(March 5, 1932 – August 31, 2023) was an American professionalfootballexecutive who was the vice president of player personnel in theNational Football League(NFL) for theDallas Cowboysfrom 1960 to 1988. He was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Famein 2019.
 Brandt in 2009 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | March 4, 1932 Milwaukee, Wisconsin,U.S. |
| Died: | August 31, 2023(aged 91) Dallas, Texas,U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | North Division(Milwaukee) |
| College: | Wisconsin |
| Career history | |
| As an executive: | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life and college
editGilbert Harvey Brandt was born inMilwaukee, Wisconsinon March 5, 1932.[1][2]He attendedNorth Division High Schoolwhere he was a 150-pound startingdefensive back.[3]He also lettered inbasketballandtrack.[4]
Brandt enrolled at theUniversity of Wisconsin,but left after two years.[4]
Professional career
edit
Brandt worked as a photographer who specialized in newborn babies and was employed as a part-time scout for theLos Angeles Ramsbased on a recommendation byElroy Hirsch.[4]In 1958, he was hired as a full-time scout by theSan Francisco 49ers.[5]
Brandt served as theDallas Cowboys' chief talent scout from the club's inception in 1960.[5]He had served as a part-time scout for theLos Angeles Ramsunder general managerTex Schrammin the 1950s. When Schramm took command of the newly formed Dallas franchise in 1960, Brandt was one of the first people he hired. Schramm, Brandt and CoachTom Landryformed the triumvirate which guided the Cowboys for their first 29 years.[3]
Brandt helped pioneer many of the scouting techniques used byNFLclubs today,[6]such as:
- Creating a new scouting and evaluation system for prospects, which would later spread throughout theNFL.In theNFL Films' documentary seriesFinding Giants,Ernie Accorsimentioned how then-general managerGeorge Youngbuilt theNew York Giantsscouting process based on the Cowboys system.[7]
- Using computers for scouting and talent evaluations. To achieve this level of automatization, the Cowboys had to systematically define which were the traits, measurable qualities and skills that could be expressed into numbers and formulas in order for a computer to understand them.[8]Different traits were prioritized for different positions.[9]
- Finding potential prospects in other sports such as:Bob Hayes,Cornell Green,[10]Peter Gent,Toni Fritsch,[citation needed]Percy Howard,[10]Ken Johnson,Ron Howard,Wade Manning,Manny Hendrix,Mac Percival,andColin Ridgway.[citation needed]The Cowboys also set up hospitality suites for coaches at theNCAA basketball tournaments.[10]
- Brandt was one of the first talent scouts to look outside of theUnited StatesandCanadafor potential players.[citation needed]KickerToni Fritschwas discovered during a European tour.[11]
- Made unconventional draft choices in lower rounds based on potential, even though at the time it wasn't known if the players would ever be a part of theNational Football League.For example:Roger Staubach,Herschel Walker,andChad Hennings.[12][failed verification]
- The use of psychology tests to identify the mental and personality make-up of prospects.[13]
- Finding players in theundrafted free agentand small college talent pool, such asDrew Pearson,Cliff Harris,andEverson Walls.[13][failed verification]
- Helped to create theNFL Scouting Combineas a centralization of the scouting evaluation process.[5]
- Contributed to introducePro Daysat schools in 1977.[14]
Brandt also made a reputation of acquiring high draft choices by making impactful trades, which were used to select players likeRandy White,Ed "Too Tall" Jones,andTony Dorsett.[15]
Brandt's dismissal from the Cowboys on May 2, 1989, completed a purge that began withJerry Jones' purchase of the franchise just over nine weeks prior on February 25 and also resulted in Landry's ouster and Schramm's resignation.[16]
Following the death ofPittsburgh SteelersquarterbackDwayne Haskinson the morning of April 9, 2022, during an interview on aSirius XMNFL radio show later that same day, a host asked Brandt for his thoughts. Brandt replied that Haskins was "living to be dead, so to speak," and claimed that draft evaluators had criticized Haskins for his work ethic during his transition from college football to the NFL, stating, "It was always something. It was one of those, 'I'm not offsides, but they keep calling me for offsides.' It's a tragic thing. Anytime somebody dies it's tragic, especially when you're 24 years old and you've got your whole life ahead of you. Maybe if he'd have stayed in school an [extra] year, he wouldn't do silly things."[17]
Brandt's comments generated significant controversy, including from several other current and former NFL players like Haskins's former teammateCameron Heyward,who called Brandt's comments "disgraceful,"[18]and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiverDez Bryant,who called Brandt's comments "unacceptable."[19]Several called for Brandt to lose his job in NFL radio over the comments.[18][20]Brandt later apologized for the comments in a statement onTwitter,saying he "reacted carelessly and insensitively" and apologizing for his "poor choice of words."[17][21]
Personal life
editAfter a few years out of football, Brandt returned as a print analyst and draft expert.[22]He contributed toNFLas a senior analyst and was a major contributor in selecting thePlayboyAll-Americanfootball team. Brandt had also been responsible for inviting collegiate players to theNFL Draftevery year. He was a regular on SiriusXM NFL Radio as a commentator on "Late Hits", "The Endzone", and the "SiriusXM NFL Tailgate Show".[23]
Brandt was inducted into theTexas Sports Hall of Fameon April 9, 2015.[24]
Brandt was announced as the 22nd member of the Cowboys' Ring of Honor on November 2, 2018.[25]
On February 2, 2019, it was announced at the annual NFL Honors Awards that Brandt was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame,and his bust was sculpted byScott Myers.[26]
Brandt and his wife Sara were married for 34 years.[5]He died in Dallas on August 31, 2023, at the age of 91.[2][10][27]
References
edit- ^Gil Brandt [@Gil_Brandt] (March 4, 2022)."Today I celebrate… 90 years... Thank you Sara for the wonderful surprise this morning"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^abSandomir, Richard (September 1, 2023)."Gil Brandt, 91, Dies; Helped Make the Cowboys 'America's Team'".The New York Times.RetrievedSeptember 1,2023.
- ^abBattista, Judy (August 31, 2023)."Gil Brandt dies at 91: Godfather of modern scouting helped build Dallas Cowboys into 'America's Team'".NFL.RetrievedAugust 31,2023.
- ^abcMcGinn, Bob (February 21, 2009)."Brandt has left brand".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^abcdWatkins, Calvin (August 31, 2023)."Gil Brandt, an NFL pioneer with the Dallas Cowboys, dies at 91".The Dallas Morning News.RetrievedAugust 31,2023.
- ^"There Are No Holes at the Top".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"Finding Giants: NFL scout's life not for the pampered".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"Cowboys believe in analytics, but instincts as well".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"The Man Who Devised the Formula to Find NFL Stars".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2022.
- ^abcd"Gil Brandt left a lasting legacy on the Cowboys, NFL".Dallas Cowboys.August 31, 2023.RetrievedAugust 31,2023.
- ^"Toni Fritsch: The Austrian futbol star who helped change football as Cowboys' kicker".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"NFL world pays tribute to longtime Cowboys exec, NFL innovator Gil Brandt after death".For The Win.August 31, 2023.
- ^abDon Pierson (May 29, 1988)."NFL teams put potential stars to the test with exam".Beaver County Times.RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^Jeff Sullivan (August 2, 2019)."Gil Brandt's HOF Moment Has Finally Arrived".Dallas Cowboys.RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^Gil LeBreton (September 3, 1985)."Not easy to trade a veteran".The Lewiston Journal.RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"Brandt Latest to Be Fired in Purge of Cowboys".Los Angeles Times.May 3, 1989.RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^abKika, Thomas (April 10, 2022). "Gil Brandt Apologizes for 'Disgraceful' Comments About Dwayne Haskins Dying". MSN.
- ^abMcGonigle, Justin (April 9, 2022). "Gil Brandt Should Never Have Another Interview After His Despicable Comments on Haskins Death - SteelerNation". Steeler Nation.
- ^Pantuosco, Jesse (April 9, 2022)."Former NFL exec Gil Brandt criticizes late Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins in tone-deaf interview".Audacy.RetrievedApril 10,2023.
- ^Whitt, Richie (April 9, 2022)."Dwayne Haskins Death: Cowboys Icon Gil Brandt Should Lose NFL Job Over Outrageous 'Eulogy'".FanNation: Dallas Cowboys News, Analysis and More.RetrievedApril 10,2023.
- ^"Ex-Cowboys executive Gil Brandt apologizes for comments regarding Dwayne Haskins' death".The Dallas Morning News.April 10, 2022.RetrievedApril 27,2023.
- ^"Gil Brandt Amazing Memory".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^"Brandt, who helped build 'America's Team,' dies".ESPN.August 31, 2023.
- ^"Gil Brandt Profile".RetrievedFebruary 19,2023.
- ^Knoblauch, Austin."Gil Brandt enshrined into Cowboys Ring of Honor".NFL.RetrievedNovember 5,2022.
- ^Moore, David."Former Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt named to 2019 Hall of Fame class".The Dallas Morning News.RetrievedNovember 5,2022.
- ^Alper, Josh."Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt dies at 91".nbcsports.RetrievedAugust 31,2023.
External links
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