Golden Richards, the renowned Dallas Cowboys wide receiver recognized for his lustrous blonde locks, tragically passed away on Friday at the age of 73 in his residence located in Murray.
The news of his death was confirmed by Lance Richards, the nephew of Golden Richards, through a heartfelt post on Facebook.
In his poignant message, Lance Richards expressed, “This morning, my beloved uncle Golden peacefully departed from this world. The memories of our hunting expeditions and passionate discussions about Dallas Cowboy football will forever remain etched in my heart.
He possessed a gentle and compassionate spirit, and I find solace in knowing that he is now free from any suffering.”
Golden Richards Cause of Death
Who Was Golden Richards?
Golden Richards, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, was born on December 31, 1950, in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Richards attended Granite High School in South Salt Lake, Utah, where he excelled in three sports: football, basketball, and track. In football, he played fullback alongside his brother Doug Richards and earned All-State honors.
He also contributed to the track & field team’s victory in the Utah Class A state championship. Additionally, Richards played guard in basketball and was recognized as second-team All-State.
Despite considering attending the University of Utah, Richards was influenced by his church bishop to enroll at BYU instead of serving on a mission. At BYU, he quickly established himself as the fastest player on the team and chose to wear number 22 in honor of Bob Hayes. During his sophomore year, Richards led the team in receiving with 36 receptions for 513 yards and one touchdown, ranking fifth among WAC receivers. In his junior year, he again topped the team in receiving with 14 receptions for 287 yards and one touchdown.
Richards also made significant contributions on special teams, recording 33 punt returns for 624 yards (with an average of 17.9 yards per return) and four touchdowns, along with 23 kickoff returns for 468 yards (with an average of 19.8 yards per return).
He led the nation in punt returns and ranked 16th in all-purpose yards.
During his college career, Richards set four NCAA records: most punt return yards in a game (219 against North Texas St.), most kickoff returns in a game (247 yards, 7 returns), highest average per kickoff return in a season (35.3 yards), and tied the record for most touchdowns (4) on punt returns in a season. He earned All-WAC honors for his outstanding performance.
Golden Richards Career
The Cowboys drafted Richards in the second round of the 1973 NFL draft, where he later became a key deep threat for star quarterback Roger Staubach.
In 1974, he earned the starting wide receiver position over Bob Hayes and showcased his skills with 26 receptions for 467 yards and 5 touchdowns. The following year, he recorded 21 receptions for 451 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Despite missing 3 games in 1976 due to a hamstring injury, he still managed to contribute with 19 receptions for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In 1977, he shared playing time with Butch Johnson, finishing the season with 17 receptions for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns.
His standout moment came in Super Bowl XII when he caught a game-winning touchdown pass.
However, with the rise of Tony Hill in 1978, Richards lost his starting role and was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears.
After a career-high 27 receptions with the Bears in 1978, he suffered a knee injury in the following season and was not re-signed.
Richards then signed with the Denver Broncos in 1980 but retired after another season-ending injury.
Golden Richards Funeral Services
The Golden Richards’ family has not yet disclosed the date for the burial and funeral service of their cherished one.
