Tag: Gil Brandt

Athletes and sports figures who have died in 2023

The notable athletes, broadcasters, and sports figures we’ve lost so far in 2023.

NFL world pays tribute to longtime Cowboys exec, NFL innovator Gil Brandt after death

Gil Brandt, an NFL innovator who helped build the 1970s Dallas Cowboys, has died.

Gil Brandt, the former Dallas Cowboys personnel executive who towers as an innovator in the NFL, has died at the age of 91, per his former team.

From 1960 to 1988, the Pro Football Hall of Famer worked as the vice president of player personnel in Dallas and helped bring in talents like Roger Staubach, Randy White, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris, Chad Hennings and Everson Walls, among others.

With legendary coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm, Brandt helped build the ferocious 1970s Cowboys team that won two Super Bowls in 1972 and 1978.

Brandt is also credited for his innovative NFL scouting systems that revolutionized the ways that teams analyzed potential draft picks, which included helping craft the annual NFL Combine.

In his tribute, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shared how much Brandt meant to the franchise and the NFL as a whole.

“We are so deeply saddened by the passing of Gil Brandt – a true icon and pioneer of our sport,” Jones said. “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.”

Other tributes from around the NFL world poured in at news of Brandt’s passing, highlighting all that he meant to the game and beyond.

Mickey Loomis issues statement on the passing of Hall of Fame exec Gil Brandt

Mickey Loomis issued statement on the passing of Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt, acknowledging his influence on the sport and his own career:

The NFL is mourning the loss of one of its own this week, upon news of Gil Brandt’s death in Dallas. Brandt, 91, was an innovator in pro football who spent decades working in personnel departments around the league — rising to prominence as an architect of the Dallas Cowboys, where he ran the scouting department from 1960 to 1988. He was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis issued a statement remembering Brandt’s influence on the sport and his own career:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gil Brandt. He was a legend, icon and pioneer of our industry. I first met Gil in 1984, at a combine that the Cowboys, Bills, Seahawks and 49ers conducted. Gil was the architect of that combine and his influence can still be seen, not only in the current combine, but also in the way that teams evaluate college prospects today. He was keen on not just understanding the metrics of players, but also the intangible qualities that would lead to their success. He had an uncanny ability to recall the smallest details about a person. He helped so many people get started in their careers in the NFL and then continued to guide and mentor them. I am grateful to be included in that group. He was a great friend, a true Hall of Famer and he will be sorely missed.”

Brandt has been credited with developing a scouting and evaluation process which became standard around the league, and he was also influential in the annual NFL Scouting Combine as a hub for pre-draft workouts and interviews. His fingerprints are still seen all around the pro football world. He’ll be missed by many who knew him, including Loomis.

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Legendary architect of early Cowboys, Gil Brandt has passed away

Former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt dies at 91. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The NFL world and the Dallas Cowboys’ organization is mourning the loss of former vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt, who passed away Thursday morning at the age of 91. He worked for the Cowboys for 29 years and was part of their first two championships, Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Brandt helped transform the club from expansion franchise into “America’s Team” by thinking outside the box when it came to scouting football players. After stints with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, Brandt was hired as the Chief Talent Scout for the Cowboys’ inaugural season of 1960. He would go on to revolutionize the way NFL scouting departments operated by introducing the use of computers in his player evaluations. Even after his retirement, Brandt continued to contribute to the league in numerous ways, including  work through the NFL’s media wing.

Among the many changes Brandt brought to the way the league operated, he and former team president Tex Schramm recommended the NFL hold an annual centralized scouting meeting which eventually became known as the NFL scouting combine.

The “Godfather of Scouting,” is responsible for drafting nine of the Cowboys 32 Hall of Fame players, and pulled several athletes from other sports over to football. Brandt also assisted team owner and general manager Jerry Jones in drafting quarterback Troy Aikman.

Jones shared his thoughts on Brandt’s legacy via the team website.

“We are so deeply saddened by the passing of Gil Brandt – a true icon and pioneer of our sport. 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.

 

Pro Football Hall of Famer sees an ideal fit with Washington and top free-agent receiver

Gil Brandt sees an ideal fit for the Commanders and a top free-agent wide receiver.

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The Washington Commanders have enough cap space to be active in free agency this month. Per Over the Cap, the Commanders currently have just under $32 million in available cap space. There are easy ways to create more space if Washington wants to add more than one high-level player in 2022.

We know the Commanders are pursuing veteran quarterbacks. However, landing Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson doesn’t feel realistic, meaning Washington could target someone such as Mitchell Trubisky in free agency or go all-in on a rookie in the 2022 NFL draft.

If Washington lands a veteran passer via free agency, like Trubisky or Marcus Mariota, the Commanders will need to give the quarterback more help at wide receiver. The only sure thing is Terry McLaurin and the franchise’s top priority this offseason is to lock up McLaurin to a new long-term deal.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt recently named 10 potential free-agent fits and has the Commanders matching up with wide receiver Allen Robinson.

This would be a big-time move, just one season removed from giving Curtis Samuel a three-year contract and getting six receptions from him in 2021.

Would adding a top free-agent wide receiver to pair with McLaurin complicate his contract negotiations?

I say no. Here’s why: Any receiver Washington signs will make less than McLaurin on his new deal. If Robinson signs with Washington for an average of $16 million per season, McLaurin will at least command $18 million per season based on the market.

What about the presence of Samuel? The Commanders aren’t giving up on Samuel. He’s a different receiver than McLaurin or Robinson. And he’s only under contract for two more seasons. If Washington signed Robinson to a three-year contract, the team has no franchise passer on the books for the foreseeable future. If the Commanders sign a Trubisky or draft a quarterback, they can afford another high-paid wide receiver in the short term.

If you can’t land an elite passer such as Wilson, give your new quarterback plenty of help.

Here’s what Brandt said on Robinson to Washington:

Robinson is coming off an injury-marred season in Chicago, but he could be the perfect veteran partner to help take some of the burden off Terry McLaurin. Robinson’s receiving total over the past three years (2,807) is almost twice what the No. 2 pass-catcher (in terms of yardage) managed in Washington in that span. Provided the 28-year-old Robinson is fully healthy, he’d bring instant credibility and balance to a passing game that has pretty much been carried solely by McLaurin since 2019.

While I wouldn’t rule out Washington signing a free-agent wide receiver, it’s doubtful they aim at the top of the free-agent market. The team would like to fill other holes. However, if Ron Rivera fails to land that elusive franchise quarterback, he could be aggressive, adding new playmakers for a run in 2022.

 

NFL Network says Jags are a fit for this free agent receiver

Arizona’s Christian Kirk, whose rookie deal is expiring, was listed as a good fit for the Jaguars by Gil Brandt.

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the offseason with a ton of needs, but perhaps chief among them is this team’s desperate necessity to add more playmakers on offense at the receiver position.

A perfect storm of injuries, poor play design, and flat-out talent deficiencies culminated in a group that gave Trevor Lawrence almost no help during his rookie season. Heading into Year 2 for Lawrence, upgrading the position is of critical importance.

That’s not to say there’s nothing to work with. Marvin Jones Jr. is a reliable veteran and D.J. Chark Jr. can be a great big-play threat when healthy (assuming the team keeps him around, as his contract is expiring). Jamal Agnew is a unique and dynamic threat and Laquon Treadwell showed off some of the talent that made him a first-round pick, likely securing a roster spot in 2022.

But none of those players are a true No. 1, and that group on its own just isn’t enough depth even if it can stay healthy — which it didn’t in 2021, as Chark and Agnew were both lost to season-ending injuries.

The team will likely draft multiple receivers, and it may look to sign a big name in free agency, too. If it goes with the latter strategy, one name to watch could be Arizona’s Christian Kirk. He’s been a bit overshadowed in an offense that features DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, and electric rookie Rondale Moore, but he’s been productive and a reliable target for quarterback Kyler Murray.

NFL Network’s Gil Brandt ran through his best fits for the top free agents this offseason, and he said that Kirk would be a good fit in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars are loaded with projected cap space and, as ever, roster needs. Kirk has yet to crack the 1,000-yard mark after four NFL seasons, but with stud DeAndre Hopkins limited to 10 games in 2021, he led the Cardinals with 77 catches and 982 receiving yards. Perhaps especially relevant for developing QB Trevor Lawrence is the fact that Kirk ranked second in catch rate over expectation (9.4%) among all NFL players with at least 100 targets last season; Marvin Jones (5.1%) and Laquon Treadwell (4.6%) were the only two Jaguars players with four-plus targets to earn positive marks in that category. The team would have to figure out how to incorporate Kirk, who thrived in the slot last season, into an offense that already features Laviska Shenault in that role. But splitting targets among multiple talented pass-catchers would be a good problem to have in Jacksonville.

While Brandt mentions Shenault’s presence as a potential hangup here, it’s entirely reasonable that Kirk would simply beat Shenault out. Though the second-year player out of Colorado made some nice plays as a rookie in 2020, the coaching staff couldn’t find a way to consistently get him involved this past season.

There’s hope that he can bounce back in Year 3, but given his lack of production this year and the need at the position, it’s not exactly something this team can bank on.

Adding a player like Kirk may not be as flashy as someone like Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin or even the Los Angeles Chargers’ Mike Williams, but it would be a solid pickup for an offense that needs whatever help it can get.

In this week’s episode of “Touchdown Jaguars!”we looked at the top needs for the Jags heading into the NFL Combine. Progressing forward, we will continue to put out weekly episodes, giving Jags Wire readers a new go-to podcast, which will discuss the latest in news, rumors, and more. To stay up to date, subscribe via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and also feel free to rate and comment.

Gil Brandt: Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz is ‘team fit’ for Chargers

The longtime personnel guru thinks the Cowboys TE, if not retained by Dallas, would help the maturation of Chargers QB Justin Herbert. | From @ToddBrock24f7

There are so-called personnel gurus in the NFL, and then there’s Gil Brandt. It’s easy to plug a roster hole with an obvious choice- a college stud or seasoned veteran at that same position- but it takes a special talent to turn a track and field Olympics champion into a Hall of Fame wide receiver, scour the European mainland for soccer stars who could make the jump to kicking field goals, be among the first to mine small schools and HBCUs for unsung pro-level talent, or bet on longshots by drafting highly-touted players not even eligible for the NFL on a just-in-case basis… and end up with legitimate superstars.

So when Brandt plays hypothetical matchmaker with impending free agents and needy clubs, it’s worth paying attention to.

The longtime Cowboys VP of player personnel and current NFL.com senior analyst sifted through this year’s class of notable free agents to find the new team that would be a perfect fit for each of 10 players. With the Cowboys set to have over 20 players hit the open market, there’s plenty to work with in Dallas, at several crucial positions on the field.

Tight end Dalton Schultz is one of those names. He’s coming off a career year, but with Blake Jarwin already locked up under contract through 2023, it’s widely thought that Schultz could find himself presented with multiple offers that the Cowboys simple can’t or won’t match.

Brandt believes that the Stanford alum could find himself back in California next season, and that he and the Los Angeles Chargers would both benefit from the move.

“Schultz sure could make life easier for Herbert as a replacement for veteran free agent Jared Cook,” Brandt writes. “Last season, Schultz bested Cook in receiving yards (808 to 564), receiving TDs (eight to four), passer rating when targeted (118.6 to 74.6), and catch rate over expectation (+3.7% to -4.9%, per Next Gen Stats). He was also a bit more surehanded, credited by PFF with just three drops, as opposed to Cook’s seven, which were the most in the NFL by a tight end.”

Teams like Tennessee, Minnesota, Green Bay, Houston, and the New York Jets could all be shopping for tight ends, too. But if Gil Brandt likes Schultz wearing powder blue and lightning bolts, it might behoove the Spanos family to take a long, hard look.

Of course, it’s not a guarantee that Schultz is leaving Dallas. The front office could choose to re-sign him or even use the franchise tag on the four-year veteran. But with the team already $21 million over the salary cap, tagging Schultz at a price point of almost $11 million seems unlikely.

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NFL analyst explains how Cam Newton can ‘orchestrate a revival’ in 2021

“I’m optimistic the former MVP will rebound from a lackluster 2020 in his second season in coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense.”

With the regular season just weeks away, the New England Patriots are getting down to the nitty gritty in their quarterback competition.

Both Cam Newton and Mac Jones have had excellent preseason and training camp performances, but the 32-year-old has experience on his side. Jones appears to be comfortable in an NFL setting, but things could change quickly while playing against starting units with some of the league’s top defenses.

Newton’s lackluster performance throughout the 2020 season was mostly a product of unfortunate circumstances — from COVID-19 complications, players opting out and a slew of departed free agents that led to an extremely thin roster. This year, he’s on a one-year deal with a base salary of $1.5 million and he has a far better roster.

NFL Network’s Gil Brandt put together a list of short-term contracts that could pay off in the 2021 season and Newton landed second.

“If rookie Mac Jones manages to seize the No. 1 job before the regular season starts, then this blurb will be moot,” Brandt wrote. “But while Jones is showing promising signs of taking over under center relatively soon, and Newton’s recent absence from the team due to a mix-up over COVID-19 testing protocols was certainly a setback, I believe Newton will still ultimately be given the first chance to lead the offense.”

And, while I’ll admit this ranking is a bit bullish, I’m optimistic the former MVP will rebound from a lackluster 2020 in his second season in coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense, with a far better supporting cast than he had last season. The cost of his one-year pact will be well worth it if Newton can orchestrate a revival in 2021, even if he does manage to boost his pay via incentives.”

Newton has a lot to overcome considering Jones’ progress this offseason, but if he’s given the opportunity — there’s a solid chance he shows a glimpse of the former MVP we all remember.

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Russell Wilson, Jamal Adams 2nd-best offensive-defensive duo in NFL

The Seattle Seahawks pair of QB Russell Wilson and SS Jamal Adams has been ranked as the second-best offensive-defensive duo in NFL

Gil Brandt, senior analyst over at NFL.com, has released his top 10 offensive-defensive duos heading into the 2021 NFL regular season, and only one pair has the Seattle Seahawks beat.

Brandt named the combo of quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Jamal Adams the second-best offensive-defensive duo in the league.

“No one has won more games through Year 9 in their NFL career than Wilson, who has 98 victories to his name following a 12-4 campaign in 2020,” Brandt writes. “Setting aside the question of who’s cooking and at what temperature, Wilson has helped keep the Seahawks in the upper echelon of the NFC more or less since becoming the team’s starter in 2012.”

“Adams has eclipsed linebacker Bobby Wagner as Seattle’s best defender, which is high praise — the do-it-all safety set a single-season record for sacks by a defensive back in 2020, with 9.5,” Brandt continues.

The Packers’ duo of signal-caller Aaron Rodgers and cornerback Jaire Alexander topped Brandt’s list at No. 1 overall.

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Does Hall of Famer Gil Brandt believe Washington can repeat as NFC East champions?

Gil Brandt is one of the NFL’s legendary figures. The longtime front-office executive of the Dallas Cowboys created many of the scouting

Gil Brandt is one of the NFL’s legendary figures. The longtime front-office executive of the Dallas Cowboys created many of the scouting techniques used by NFL teams today.

Brandt, who worked the Cowboys from 1960-88, helped construct the roster of some of the greatest Dallas teams of all time, which included two Super Bowl titles.

Brandt’s outstanding body of work earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Now, at 89-years-old, Brandt is still working for NFL.com, churning out columns with his one-of-a-kind insight. Recently, he took a look at every NFL division for 2021, assessing the 2020 division winner’s chances of repeating in 2021.

Does Brandt see the Washington Football Team repeating as NFC East champions?

The NFC East hasn’t had a repeat winner since the Eagles won four straight titles from 2001 through ’04. Washington’s dominant defense gives the team a chance to break that streak — but the squad is hardly a shoo-in. The Cowboys automatically become legit contenders again with the return to health of QB Dak Prescott, who missed most of 2020 with an ankle injury. Daniel Jones has been given a plethora of weapons by the Giants as he attempts to take another step in his development as a quarterback in Year 3. Even with Philadelphia rebuilding, this division is tight enough that I won’t be surprised if the winner fails to finish with double-digit victories for the third straight season.

Predicting the NFC East in any year is almost like flipping a coin. It’s probably the same again in 2021. However, don’t discount Washington just because it won the division with a record of 7-9 in 2020. The Football Team finished No. 2 in total defense — and should improve on that side of the ball with the additions of linebacker Jamin Davis, cornerback William Jackson III and safety Bobby McCain.

Another reason to be optimistic about Washington in 2021 is the improvements it made on offense. The additions of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown almost certainly mean the WFT will be more explosive in 2021.

The NFC East will be close in 2021. The Giants will be better. The Cowboys are going to be better just by having Prescott back. And Washington made lots of moves this offseason.

It should be another wild and entertaining 2021.