Former Cowboys star Golden Richards, scorer of Super Bowl XII’s decisive TD, passes away at 73

Lance wrote in his post,

My uncle Golden passed away peacefully this morning. I will forever remember going hunting and talking Dallas Cowboy football. He was a kind and sweet soul and I'm so happy he's not suffering anymore.

In his seven seasons in the league, he spent more than five as a deep-play threat with the Cowboys. His fourth-quarter touchdown catch at the Super Bowl, 1978 is still inked in the pages of history as the most famous TD catch. It’s not an easy goodbye as the franchise lost one of their first generation stars, who graced them with many prominent wins. 

Despite having a concise NFL tenure, Richards is counted among the top 50 players for receiving yards and the top 30 for touchdown receptions. He bid goodbye to the football field after building a legacy and career record of 122 receptions for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns, before sustaining injuries that prompted his retirement in 1980. 

How Golden Richards, the Cowboys’ greatest deep threat, conquered his dark past and found peace

Originally known as John “Golden” Richards, was born in Utah on December 31, 1950. Being a three-sport star, he prioritized football and began his professional career in college football at BYU. The Cowboys drafted him in 1973 in the second round, alongside Billy Joe DuPree, Drew Pearson, and Harvey Martin .

Right in his second year, the franchise promoted Richards as the starting wide receiver over Bob Hayes, whose jersey the young receiver wore in his college. Within no time, Richards established his name as the offense’s deep threat. 

According to The Deseret News, Richards struggled with major health problems and drug addiction, which he finally let go of a decade ago and remained sober throughout that period– his last 10 years.