The shattered dream of Shiyazh Pete, the first Navajo player in the NFL: the Cowboys, merciless after his locker room video
The Dallas Cowboys have terminated the contract of offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete, the first Navajo to sign with an NFL team.
Shiyazh Pete seemed to be living the beginning of a perfect story. The young offensive lineman had made history by becoming the first member of the Navajo Nation to sign with an NFL team.
However, the Dallas Cowboys had to reduce their roster to the 53-player limit, and Pete was one of the names left out. The player who had thrilled an entire locker room and won over thousands of fans now once again faces uncertainty.
The video that turned Shiyazh Pete into a sensation
The moment that put Pete at the center of everyone's attention came during the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals .
Pooh Bear thrilled his teammates, won over social media, and starred in one of the most special moments in the NFL . A large number of Navajo fans came to the stadium to support him, and the player received a standing ovation that even surprised the coach.
The athlete starred in a scene that quickly went viral when, after head coach Brian Schottenheimer, asked him to deliver a speech in the Cowboys locker room, he gave a rallying talk that won over social media and the hearts of those who were able to hear it.
The message spoke about the path they had traveled together and the brotherhood that football can create. The speech sparked an enormous reaction within the team, and the video ended up becoming a sensation on social media.
From a locker room hero to being left off the roster
In contrast to what happened, the story took a much harsher turn for the NFL star. The Cowboys made their final moves to reach the definitive 53-man roster, Pete was cut by Dallas and became a free agent.
The contrast could not have been greater: just a few days earlier, his teammates were celebrating his words in the locker room and thousands of people were sharing his story. Now, the player who became a symbol for the Navajo community will have to wait for a new opportunity.
His departure from the Cowboys does not necessarily mean the end of his journey. As a free agent, Pete can sign with another NFL team and could also find an opportunity on a practice squad.
Pete was born on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Roanan, Montana . According to the El Paso Times, he began playing football in seventh grade before transferring to Shiprock High School in New Mexico during his sophomore year.
This story once again showed that even if you build the most powerful story, even if everything seems like a perfect tale, nothing guarantees you a place on the team the next day.
Pete could still join the Dallas practice squad if he is not claimed by another team.
