Golden Richards, a former BYU and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XII, died on Friday of congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah. He was 73 years old.
Richards was a standout athlete at Granite High School in Salt Lake City, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. He then played college football at BYU (Brigham Young University), where he wore the No. 22 in honor of his idol, Bob Hayes, another Cowboys receiver.
He led the nation in punt return yards as a junior and earned All-WAC honors, before transferring to Hawaii for his senior year, where he suffered a knee injury that would limit his NFL career.
Golden Richards was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft and played for them from 1973 to 1978. He was known for his speed, his long blond hair, and his deep threat ability.
He became famous after he caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Robert Newhouse on a trick play in the Cowboys’ 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII in 1978.
The Pro-athlete later played for the Chicago Bears before retiring in 1980 with a remarkable record of 122 receptions, 2,136 yards gained, and 17 touchdowns scored.
After his retirement, he worked as a television host for ESPN Outdoors and appeared in several commercials.
Golden Richards broke his hip on Christmas Day in 2022 and had had four surgeries since then, which worsened his condition. His death was announced by his brother, Doug, who said that his brother had fought hard until the end.
His nephew, Lance Richards, also confirmed the news in a Facebook post, writing:
“My uncle Golden passed away peacefully this morning…He was a kind and sweet soul and I’m so happy he’s not suffering anymore.”
