Ex-Cowboys TE, civil rights advocate Norman dies

Pettis Norman, a choky extremity connected the shot tract and a civilian rights advocator disconnected of it, has died. He was 86.

Norman played for the Dallas Cowboys (1962-70) and San Diego Chargers (1971-73). He was a subordinate of the archetypal Cowboys' squad to play successful the Super Bowl -- Super Bowl V successful 1971, a 16-13 nonaccomplishment to the Baltimore Colts.

Norman caught 124 passes with the Cowboys, including 14 touchdowns, and averaged 13.5 yards per reception. Only 3 choky ends successful squad past person averaged much than 13.0 yards per drawback with astatine slightest 100 vocation receptions.

We mourn the passing of erstwhile choky extremity and civilian rights advocator Pettis Norman. Known for his selfless leadership, committedness to community, and dedication to creating adjacent opportunity, we were incredibly arrogant and grateful to stock his singular communicative recently. For much on... pic.twitter.com/brks4HoLq5

During his archetypal 7 seasons successful the NFL, helium served successful the Texas Army National Guard. And helium was astatine the forefront of civilian rights issues successful the 1960s, some successful the locker country and successful the greater Dallas area.

"We mourn the passing of erstwhile choky extremity and civilian rights advocator Pettis Norman," the Cowboys said Monday. "Known for his selfless leadership, committedness to community, and dedication to creating adjacent opportunity, we were incredibly arrogant and grateful to stock his singular communicative recently."

Part of the communicative the Cowboys shared was Norman's effort successful helping to interruption down radical barriers connected the team. He was 1 of the players who went to caput manager Tom Landry to person him to halt assigning edifice rooms for roadworthy games by race, the squad said.

"I tried to bash immoderate I could bash [to] assistance alteration the kinds of things that nine had operated nether for specified a agelong time," Norman said, per the squad website.

Norman aboriginal became the archetypal Black authoritative astatine a slope successful Dallas. In 1993, helium besides founded the Dallas Together Forum with an purpose of expanding number hiring and boosting contracts awarded to companies owned by women and minorities.

Norman played successful 162 games (122 starts) betwixt the 2 franchises, making 183 receptions for 2,492 yards with 15 TDs.