Former Dallas Cowboys defensive back and ex-Denver Broncos scout Cornell Green passed away at the age of 86, the Broncos announced on Wednesday.
Green's vast NFL career goes back to his days playing for the Dallas Cowboys, whom he played for from 1962-74. Green was part of Dallas' famed "Doomsday Defense" of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Green played in 182 career games, starting 170 of them, recording 34 interceptions (returning two for touchdowns), recovering seven fumbles (returning two for touchdowns), and totaling 2.5 sacks. Green played in the days before tackles were recorded as an official statistic. Green began a career as a scout for the Cowboys in 1970, and was soon recruited by a familiar face.
Green was a teammate of future Denver
Broncos coach Dan Reeves, who was a running back with the Cowboys. Reeves asked Green to come over to scout for the Broncos, and he began a long, very successful career. Green was a Broncos scout for 28 years for Denver, spanning the careers of Reeves, Mike Shanahan and part of the executive tenure of Hall of Famer John Elway.
During his time in Denver, Green won the AFC Scout of the Year Award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance in 2010. Green helped the Broncos win two Super Bowls, and helped them appear in six total championship games before retiring in 2015.
Cornell was a pioneer, legend and gentleman who was part of six Super Bowl appearances and three World Championships as a member of the Broncos’ personnel department. https://t.co/Dz5lCtoZfo
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) October 22, 2026
To hear more about the scouting legend, Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Jim Saccomano wrote a glowing tribute to Green on the Broncos' official website in 2022.
Broncos Wire sends its condolences to Green's family at this difficult time.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Cornell Green, former Cowboys DB and Broncos scout, dies at age 86
