Sorrowful: The Dallas Cowboys head coach has confirmed the death of his all-time favorite player.

Sorrowful: The Dallas Cowboys head coach has confirmed the death of his all-time favorite player.

According to his nephew, Golden Richards, the former collegiate and professional football player recognized for his massive catches and his flowing blonde hair, passed away over the weekend. He was seventy-three.

 

Lance Richards posted on Facebook on Friday, saying, “My uncle Golden passed away quietly this morning.” “I will never forget going hunting and having conversations about Dallas Cowboy football. He had a gentle and loving spirit, and I am glad he is no longer in pain.

Richards was well-known for his quickness as a punt returner and wide receiver in college. During his junior year at Brigham Young University, he once set a record most return touchdowns across the country. After transferring to Hawaii to complete his collegiate studies, the native of Salt Lake City was selected by Dallas in the draft, realizing his childhood dream of being an NFL player.

Richards played in the NFL for seven seasons, including five with the Dallas Cowboys. He also briefly played for the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos.

Richards is renowned for having a key role in the Cowboys’ 1978 Super Bowl victory as he successfully completed a trick play late in the game and caught a 29-yard pass from fullback Robert Newhouse. The season’s first three touchdown passes were caught by the deep-threat wide receiver, who added two more in the team’s NFC Championship game.

 

Doug Richards, the brother of Richards, told The Deseret News over the weekend that his brother “had a great heart, a tender heart, and was just a very great guy, and obviously a fantastic football player.”

Doug claimed that he and his brother were “very close,” which made the loss even more painful. He informed the press, “He has left us and gone to a better place.” “Until it was his turn, he fought very good there to the end.”

Richards struggled with addiction and several other health issues after retiring from the NFL in 1980. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.

Doug told The Deseret News, “Seven or eight years of wear and tear on the football field for a 175-pound wide receiver who was concussed multiple times, too.” “That clearly had an impact.”

 

According to his brother, Richards underwent four hip surgeries after breaking his hip on Christmas in 2022, as reported by ESPN. In his later years, he resided with his adult sons Jordan and Goldie Jr., the outlet said.