CNN —Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt, widely regarded as the architect who helped build the Dallas Cowboys into one of the most successful and popular sports franchises of all time, died on Thursday, according to the Cowboys. After a six-decade NFL executive career – 29 years with the Cowboys – Brandt was inducted into the Hall in 2019. As the vice president of player personnel for the Cowboys, Brandt was lauded for his acute ability to recognize player talent – having drafted nine Cowboys players who, like Brandt, are Pro Football Hall of Famers. Brandt is also credited in helping build the annual player draft into a three-day, made-for-TV event. The result was discovering future Cowboys from smaller colleges, or even off college basketball or track teams,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter.

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