Cornell M. Green (February 10, 1940 – October 21, 2026) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back for 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He attended Utah State University, but did not play college football. Rather, he was a leading scorer and rebounder in the Skyline Conference and a two-time honorable mention All-American as a basketball player for the Aggies; where he also was named to the West Region All-Star team in the 1962 NCAA University Division basketball tournament. Green was selected in the fifth round of the 1962 NBA draft, but not selected in the NFL draft; and was signed by scout Gil Brandt of the Cowboys in 1962 as a free agent.
During Green's NFL career, he started in two NFL championship games before the merger of the American Football League with the NFL; and then started in two Super Bowls, winning with the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. He was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl five times, and was a first- or second-team All-Pro selection four times. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1967, when the Cowboys' defensive unit first became known as the "Doomsday Defense". He played cornerback the first eight seasons of his NFL career and strong safety for his last five seasons; being selected to play in the Pro Bowl at both positions. During his regular season and playoff career, he returned three interceptions and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. On special teams, he blocked eight field goal attempts during his career, and blocked 10 kicks overall.
Green never missed a regular season or playoff game over his 13-year career; starting in 170 regular season games and 15 playoff games. He started in 25 consecutive games from December 1962 to November 1964 until he was unable to start a November 1964 game due to a rib injury (though still playing in the game). Green then started in every game for the remainder of his career (140 consecutive regular season games and 15 playoff games).
He spent over three decades as a full-time NFL scout for the Cowboys and Denver Broncos, and five offseasons in a part-time scouting role for the Cowboys before his retirement as a player. In 2010, he received the AFC Scout of the Year Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance.
Contents
Early life
Green was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on February 10, 1940. He was one of five sons raised by Elijah and Gladys Green. His oldest brother, Pumpsie Green, became the first African American baseball player on the Boston Red Sox, the last team in Major League Baseball to integrate. His older brother Credell Green played football at the University of Washington where he once rushed for 258 yards in a game; and later was drafted by the Green Bay Packers but released before the 1957 NFL season.
Green was raised in northern California in Richmond and attended El Cerrito High School. He played on the basketball team from 1955 to 1957, and was All-ACAL (1956–1957), All-Northern California (1956–1957), and All-State in 1957. He played one year on the football team in 1956 at fullback. In 2009, Green was named to the inaugural class of the El Cerrito High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
College career
Green had been offered college scholarships in football, but thought it unwise to play two sports in college and believed he was a better basketball player than football player. From 1958 to 1959, Green played basketball at Contra Costa College, earning All-State honors. He transferred to Utah State University, where he played basketball for the Aggies in the Skyline Conference (officially the Mountain State Athletic Conference, which was dissolved in June 1962). Green earned All-American honors (1961, 1962) as well as All-Skyline Conference honors in each of his three years (1960 to 1962). United Press International (UPI) named him an honorable mention All-American in March 1961. In March 1962, the Associated Press (AP) named him an honorable mention All-American. The AP and UPI named him first-team All-Skyline in 1960, and the AP again named him first-team All-Skyline in 1961. The AP and UPI (unanimously) named him first-team All-Skyline Conference in 1962. Coach LaDell Andersen named Green team captain for the 1961–62 season.
As a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) forward, Green set the Aggie career rebounding record with 1,067 which still stands today (as of 2026). He is also the sixth leading scorer in Utah State history with 1,890 points. Green produced some of the best individual seasons in school history as his 745 points in 1962 are still in fourth place. His 403 rebounds and 13.9 rebounds per game average in 1960 remain school records for a season (as of 2024). He was the Skyline Conference’s Most Valuable Player as a sophomore.
Green averaged a double-double during his Aggie career (22.5 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game). In 1959–60 as a sophomore, Green led the Sklyline Conference in scoring (21.2 points per game) and total rebounds (403), and was second in rebounds per game (13.9). He led the conference in scoring again as a junior (1960–61) with a 20.4 points per game average, and was fourth in rebounding at 12.4 rebounds per game. As a senior (1961–62), he was second in the conference in scoring (25.7 points per game) and rebounding (11.8 rebounds per game).
In his three seasons with the Aggies, Utah State went to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1960 (reaching the semifinals) and to the NCAA Tournament in 1962. In the Aggies' 1960 73–72 NIT overtime win over the Villanova Wildcats, Green scored 18 points in the first half, and was double-teamed the entire second half; ending with 26 points. Green led the Aggies with 19 points in their NIT semifinal loss to the Providence Friars, and had 26 points in a victory over St. Bonaventure for third place in the NIT. The AP named Green to its second-team All-NIT team. The Aggies ended the 1959–60 season with a 24–5 record, and ranked eighth in the final Associated Press Poll; while ranking seventh in the Coaches' Poll, which remains the highest year-end basketball rankings in school history.
Professional career
Green was a college basketball player who never played a down of college football. The Chicago Zephyrs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) drafted Green in the fifth round of the 1962 NBA draft. He did not play in the NBA, but instead went on to a thirteen-year career in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. At the time he chose to pursue a career in professional football with the Cowboys, Green stated that he was concerned that at only 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), it would be difficult for him to play the forward position in the NBA as he had in college because he would not be tall enough for professional basketball at forward. He was not drafted to play professional football, but was signed by scout Gil Brandt as an undrafted free agent to play for the Dallas Cowboys, who converted him into a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL).
In one telling, on a tip from Utah State basketball coach LaDell Anderson, the Cowboys discovered and signed the multi-talented younger brother of then Red Sox infielder Pumpsie Green for $1,000 or $1,205. This was one of the innovative personnel decisions the Cowboys were known for. (In 1962, the Cowboys also tried out Washington State University basketball and track star Charley Sells, along with Green.) In another variation, Gil Brandt was scouting at Utah State and saw Green pIay basketball; and also was aware Green had played high school football. He approached Green about playing for the Cowboys. In yet another version, it was Green that approached Gil Brandt at a Utah State football game and asked for a chance to try out for the Cowboys.
Green signed with the Cowboys in May 1962. At the time of the signing, Brandt stated that the Cowboys had plans for Green as a receiver and defensive back. Although he was one of the few players signed in the NFL who had not played college football, Brandt believed "'Green has the natural ability, agility and determination to be an outstanding athlete for us'".
Even after signing with the Cowboys, however, Green was still leaning towards playing in the NBA for the Zephyrs, and when he reported to the Cowboys' training camp in Marquette, Michigan, in 1962, he just thought of it as a $1,000 bonus. "I figured I’d go there for a week ... and they’d cut me", Green later said. Instead, Green was a surprise in the Cowboys' 1962 training camp, making the Cowboys roster as a defensive back; an area where the team was lacking in quality players. Green's 6 ft 4 in height and agility developed in playing basketball were said to have provided him advantages that helped make up for his lack of experience and knowledge in playing defensive back. He reportedly weighed 210 lb (95.3 kg) in training camp.
Scouting and business career
Green began scouting for the Dallas Cowboys in 1970 while still an active player and continued scouting as a full-time scout through 1979, after retiring in 1975. He had worked in the Cowboys' office during the off-seasons for five years at the time he retired, at which point he became a full-time scout. After scouting, he entered private business until joining the Denver Broncos in 1987. He spent 35 years scouting in the NFL, and 28 seasons doing it with the Broncos. In 2010, he received the AFC Scout of the Year Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance.
Legacy and honors
In 1993, Green was inducted into the inaugural class of the Utah State University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall Of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the State of Utah Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named to the Aggies' All-Century Team in 2005.
In 1985, he was named to the Dallas Cowboys 25th Anniversary Team. In 2017, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Green to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2017. In 2020, Green was ranked number 23 on the list of the 60 greatest Cowboys players, chosen as part of the team's celebrating its 60th anniversary. Green was also part of the legendary Doomsday Defense’s first generation.
Personal life and death
For nearly six decades Green was married to Betty Green. The Greens had two sons and three granddaughters.
Cornell Green died on October 21, 2026, at the age of 86.