Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Cowboys great Cornell Green dies at 86
Cornell Green, a longtime Dallas Cowboys defensive back, has died at 86, the team announced Wednesday.
He played all 13 seasons of his NFL career in Dallas, appearing in every regular-season game and in 15 playoff games.
Green was part of the Cowboys’ original Doomsday Defense and helped the team win its first Super Bowl championship after the 1971 season.
He made five Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors twice and finished with 34 interceptions, tied for fifth in Cowboys history.
His rise was unusual because he had not played college football, instead playing basketball at Utah State and being selected in the 1962 NBA draft before joining the Cowboys.
After retiring in 1974, he worked as a scout for Dallas and later spent nearly 30 years with the Denver Broncos.
The Cowboys have not given a cause of death, and no further arrangements or next steps were stated.
Cornell Green, a former Dallas Cowboys defensive back and longtime Denver Broncos scout, has died at 86.
The Cowboys announced his death Wednesday and provided no details about its cause.
Green played 13 seasons in Dallas, appeared in every regular-season game and was part of the team’s first Super Bowl championship.
He was selected to five Pro Bowls and earned four All-Pro honors.
After retiring following the 1974 season, he worked as a scout for the Cowboys and Broncos.
- Who
- Cornell Green, former Cowboys defensive back and Broncos scout, died at 86.
- What
- The Cowboys announced his death. The team did not provide a cause.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Chicago Zephyrs drafted Green 37th overall, and he later attended the Cowboys’ training camp.
Green played all 182 regular-season games in 13 seasons with Dallas.
Green was part of the Cowboys team that won its first Super Bowl championship.
The Denver Broncos hired Green as a scout.
Green’s time on the Broncos’ staff ended.
The Cowboys announced Green had died at 86.
- Age at death
- 86
- Cowboys career
- 13 seasons, 1962–74
- Regular-season games
- 182
- Pro Bowl selections
- 5
- Career interceptions
- 34, tied for fifth-most in Cowboys history
- Broncos scouting tenure
- 1987 through the 2015 draft
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What people are saying
Cornell was a true trailblazer having never played football in college, yet becoming a multi-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro and NFL Super Bowl champion.
Cornell remarkably never missed a game in 13 seasons, becoming one of the best and most dependable teammates to ever wear the star.