One of the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest players, who passed away at the age of 79, makes it a sad day for the team. While the cause of his death is still unknown, Alzheimer’s illness is said to have had a major role in his untimely demise. Walt Garrison’s passing has exacerbated the Cowboys’ already palpable fear. The team is already in disarray.
To put it mildly, Walt Garrison was an unusual character. The man has done it all, from performing in rodeos to working in the tobacco industry. His final moments in the NFL were darkened by his love for Rodeo. Let’s examine a few of his accomplishments both on and off the field.
A “Cowboy and a cowboy” was Walt Garrison. He was given opportunities by his passion for steer wrestling and rodeo that he might not have otherwise had. His connection to the NFL brought him to an advertisement for tobacco. This was the occasion on which NFL Films videotaped him as part of their effort to capture their players and staff engaging in peculiar behavior. US Smokeless Tobacco saw the movie after he was caught on camera dipping tobacco, or snuffing.
Garrison’s passion for rodeo was sufficient to enable him to attend and participate in local tournaments on a casual basis. He would frequently attend and compete in local steer wrestling competitions. just as a matter of preference. He claimed that there were many similarities between football and steer wrestling, including the need to run up to and take down an opponent. It’s reasonable to assume that Walt Garrison excelled in both sports.
He had won Super Bowl VI in 1972 and was a Pro Bowler once throughout his NFL career. He had a history of knee injuries from his undergraduate days, which forced him to retire at the age of thirty. Ironically, steer wrestling—something he genuinely loved from the bottom of his heart—was what ultimately destroyed his NFL career. Garrison’s retiring injury was caused via steer wrestling.
Throughout his career, Garrison played in 119 regular season games, 13 postseason games, and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1972 after rushing for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
In the midst of all of this, Jerry Jones has yet to comment on Garrison’s passing; we are still waiting for him to do so.
