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Former Dallas Cowboys defensive back and longtime Denver Broncos scout Cornell Green has passed away at the age of 86, both franchises announced Wednesday.
Green spent 13 seasons in Dallas, becoming a mainstay of the team’s original “Doomsday Defense” before building a second NFL career in scouting. He played from 1962 through 1974 and appeared in all 182 regular-season games during his career, along with 15 postseason contests. His durability stood out throughout his tenure, as he never missed a game and started 167 of 168 regular-season appearances following his rookie year.
Green’s journey to professional football was unconventional. Born in Oklahoma City and raised in California, he developed into an accomplished basketball player before entering the NFL. At Utah State, he earned All-American recognition in 1961 and 1962, finishing with 1,067 career rebounds, a school record that remains intact. He also scored 1,890 points, ranking sixth in the program’s history.
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The Chicago Zephyrs, now the Washington Wizards, selected Green in the fifth round of the 1962 NBA Draft, but he ultimately pursued football instead. Although his experience in the sport was limited to playing during his junior year of high school, an invitation to the Cowboys’ training camp gave him an opportunity to prove himself. He secured a roster spot and made the NFL All-Rookie team in 1962.
Initially deployed at cornerback, Green became a regular starter and earned three of his five Pro Bowl selections at the position from 1965 through 1967. He received first-team All-Pro honors in 1966 and 1967, adding second-team recognition in 1968 and 1969. Green also led Dallas in interceptions four times and recorded seven picks in both 1966 and 1967.
The Cowboys moved him to safety in 1970, and he earned additional Pro Bowl selections in 1971 and 1972. The position change coincided with Dallas’ championship run. After appearing in two NFL Championship Games and Super Bowl V, Green helped the Cowboys defeat the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season, securing the organization’s first Super Bowl title.
Green finished his playing career with 34 interceptions, tying him for fifth place on Dallas’ all-time list. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns and made seven fumble recoveries, including two returned for scores. His postseason contributions included a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown versus the Cleveland Browns in the 1967 playoffs, helping the Cowboys advance to the championship game remembered as the Ice Bowl.
After retiring following the 1974 season, Green continued working in the NFL scouting department. He began assisting Dallas while still playing before joining Denver in 1987, where he worked alongside former teammate and Broncos head coach Dan Reeves. Green remained with Denver through the 2015 draft, completing a 46-year career in the league.
During his 28 years with the Broncos, the team won 11 division titles, six AFC championships and three Super Bowls. Green received the AFC Scout of the Year Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance in 2010.
His playing achievements earned him selection to the Cowboys’ 25th Anniversary Team in 1985 and their 60th anniversary team in 2020. Utah State also inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and retired his No. 24 jersey.
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