Gil Brandt

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Gil Brandt

Date of birth:	March 3, 1933 (1933-03-03) (age 75)
Place of birth:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Career information
Position(s):	Vice President of player personnel
College:	Wisconsin
Organizations
As player:
1960-1989	Dallas Cowboys

Gil Brandt (born March 3, 1933) was a Vice President of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988.

Brandt served as the Cowboys' chief talent scout since the club's birth in 1960. He had served as a part-time scout for the Los Angeles Rams under General Manager Tex Schramm in the 1950s. When Schramm took command of the newly formed Dallas franchise in 1960, Brandt was one of the first people he hired. Schramm, Brandt and Coach Tom Landry formed the triumverate which guided the Cowboys for their first 29 years.

Brandt helped pioneer many of the scouting techniques used by NFL clubs today, such as computer analysis of prospects, converting basketball players and track athletes into football players and finding top free agent rookies, such as Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris, and Everson Walls. Brandt was also one of the first NFL talent scouts to look outside the United States for potential players. For example, he looked to Latin American soccer leagues for kickers.

A native of Milwaukee and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Brandt worked as a baby photographer before his flair of discovering football talent led him into the NFL. Gil Brandt left the Dallas Cowboys after Jerry Jones bought the team. After a few years out of football, he returned as a print analyst and draft expert. ^[1] Brandt currently contributes to NFL.com as their main personnel guru, offering insight and commentary on all aspects of players and teams. Gil is also a major contributor in selecting the Playboy All -American Football Team along with sports editor Gary Cole.