Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Shiyazh Pete did not need a big statistical performance to make his first NFL preseason appearance in Arizona memorable. The Cowboys rookie became the center of attention when a large group of Navajo Nation supporters turned State Farm Stadium into a celebration of his historic journey.
Pete, an undrafted rookie, played only six offensive snaps in Dallas’ 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Yet when the 6-foot-9 offensive lineman entered the game, one of the loudest reactions inside the stadium came from the section filled with fans there specifically to support him.
Navajo Nation shows up for Shiyazh Pete
Pete is believed to be the first player from the Navajo Nation to sign an NFL contract. He grew up in Shiprock, New Mexico, after his family moved there when he was in high school, and his connection to the community made Saturday’s scene especially significant.
The support was impossible for Pete to miss. He said he lost count of the Navajo Nation flags he saw in the stands and also spotted a Salish Nation flag.
“I just want to take the moment to thank all the fans and the people who showed up to support me and to celebrate my name and to wear my jersey,” Pete said. The turnout was larger than Pete expected. With 62,674 fans attending the game, a substantial contingent from the Navajo Nation filled part of the lower bowl behind the Cowboys’ bench.
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A moment bigger than football for Pete
Pete’s reaction showed that the night meant far more to him than simply getting six NFL snaps. “It was surreal. It’s hard to find the words to describe it,” Pete said, explaining that English was probably not the language he would use to describe the emotion of the moment.
The scene also caught the attention of Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer. The coach said Pete had previously explained to him what the Cowboys’ star means to him and recognized how important that symbol is to many people.
Schottenheimer was not aware of everything happening in the stands during the game, but he said he was proud of Pete after learning about the support.
Pete gives Cowboys a memorable locker room moment
The night became even more meaningful after the game when Schottenheimer asked Pete to break down the team in the locker room.
Pete delivered a short speech about his journey with the Cowboys and the bond created by the organization. His teammates responded with a loud cheer.
“This game, fate, brought us here as strangers but this game, this star, this game, will make us brothers,” Pete told the team.
For Pete, the Cowboys have already become much more than an NFL opportunity. The organization has given him a platform to represent where he came from while pursuing a career that once appeared far out of reach.
The significance of Saturday night
Pete’s six snaps will barely register in the box score, but the moment surrounding those snaps will be much harder to forget.
He walked into State Farm Stadium as an undrafted rookie fighting for an NFL roster spot. He left with a stadium section behind him, his community celebrating his achievement and a locker room that had just heard him speak from the heart.
The Cowboys still have one preseason game remaining before roster cuts, but Pete has already created a moment that extends well beyond football. For the Navajo Nation, his NFL journey is now something they can see represented on the Cowboys’ sideline.
