Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Golden Richards died Friday.
He was 73 years old.
According to reports, Richards was suffering from congestive heart failure.
Deseret News coverage Richards outlined several health issues he has dealt with in recent years.
Golden's older brother, Doug, told the site that Golden collapsed on Christmas Day 2022 and has had to have four hip surgeries since then. He said that contributed to his deteriorating health. Doug Richards also told the site that his brother's mental capacity was declining.
“The 175-pound wide receiver was worn out on the football field for seven or eight years and had multiple concussions,” he said. “Obviously it took a while too.”
It was also pointed out on the website, Richards was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.
Richards is a Salt Lake City native who played at Brigham Young University before transferring to Hawaii as a senior. The Cowboys selected him in the second round, 46th overall, in the 1973 draft.
He played with Dallas through the 1978 season, then with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos, finishing his career in 1980.
Richards didn't have impressive numbers. He finished his career with 122 catches, 2,136 yards, and 17 touchdowns. Still, he became a Cowboys legend. That's because the 29-yard touchdown reception on a pass from fullback Robert Newhouse was the decisive touchdown in Dallas' 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 12. This is because it has become.
