Golden Richards, former Cowboys deep threat, dies at age 73

In Murray, Utah Golden Richards, the renowned wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who memorably grabbed a touchdown pass off a gadget play in the 1978 Super Bowl, passed away on Friday at his Murray, Oklahoma, home from congestive heart failure. Richards was also noted for his flowing blonde hair. He was seventy-three.

Lance Richards, Richards’ nephew, posted on Facebook to confirm the death.

Lance Richards commented, “My uncle Golden passed away peacefully this morning.” “I’ll never forget going hunting and having conversations about Dallas Cowboy football. He was a good and gentle man, and I’m glad he’s no longer in pain.”

Having played for seven seasons in the NFL with Dallas, Chicago, and Denver, the former standout player from BYU is most remembered for his more than five years as a deep-play threat with the Cowboys. He twice

ended his career in Dallas with a lifetime average of 18.3 yards per reception, averaging over 21 yards per catch.

That was particularly clear when the Broncos were the opponent in the 1978 Super Bowl. Richards went behind the defense to catch a 29-yard touchdown pass from fullback Robert Newhouse with the Cowboys leading 20-10 in the fourth quarter. The play all but guaranteed the Cowboys their second title.

Before being forced to retire in 1980 due to injury, Richards concluded his career with 122 catches for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, he excelled at Granite High School and later at neighboring BYU, where he played punt return and receiver. As a junior, he set a national record with four touchdown returns.

Richards participated in his last year of college at

Hawaii, gaining 414 yards and five touchdowns from 23 receptions. The Cowboys were drawn to that and selected him in the second round of the 1973 draft.

According to the Deseret News, Richards battled drug addiction and health issues after retirement, but he spent the last ten years of his life clean.

Brother Doug Richards, a former BYU basketball player, told the newspaper, “seven or eight years of wear and tear on the football field for a 175-pound wide receiver who was concussed several times too.” “That obviously took its toll.”

After receiving a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2011, Richards spent his latter years living with his adult sons, Jordan and Goldie Jr. According to Doug Richards, his brother endured four hip operations after breaking his hip on Christmas in 2022.

Doug Richards declared, “He has left us and gone to a better place.” “He fought pretty good there to the end, until it was his time.”