Pettis Norman, the former Dallas Cowboys tight end who advocated for civil rights during the 1960s, has died. He was 86.

Pettis’ death was announced by the Cowboys on Monday night. No cause of death was shared.

“We mourn the passing of former tight end and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman,” the team said in a statement. “Known for his selfless leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to creating equal opportunity, we were incredibly proud and grateful to share his remarkable story recently.”

Norman was drafted by the Dallas Texans in the 1962 AFL Draft, but instead signed with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where he played he first nine seasons from 1962-70. He helped lead the Cowboys to its first Super Bowl appearance in January 1971, when Dallas lost Super Bowl V to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13.

Norman also played in the infamous “Ice Bowl” between the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which was also the 1967 NFL Championship game, which Green Bay won, 21-17.

After nine seasons with Dallas, Norman played three seasons for the San Diego Chargers before retiring from the NFL after the 1973 season. For his 12-year NFL career, Norman finished with 183 receptions for 2,492 yards and 15 touchdowns, as well as 23 rushes for 198 yards, in 162 games played, including 122 starts.

During his NFL career, Norman also advocated for civil rights and equality at a time when segregation was still practiced across the U.S.

“I addressed the issue of segregation, which percolated beneath the surface of the Dallas Cowboys franchise, with both Coach [Tom] Landry and [general manager] Tex Schramm,” Norman told The Dallas Morning News in 2021. “First, I went to Tex to discuss it. ‘It’s really time we change it,’ I told him. ‘We are a team. We cannot separate by color. It sends the wrong message to us and the community.’”

Norman’s advocacy pushed Cowboys management to change its stance on segregation, which was challenged when the team played an exhibition game in a town that still embraced segregation.

“Coach [Tom] Landry simply said, ‘Well, we don’t play where we can’t eat and sleep together as a team,’” Norman recalled to The News. “Suddenly, the arrangements were made, and we did play the game.”

In 1968 while playing for the Cowboys, Norman was requested by President Lyndon Johnson to come to Washington, D.C., to help calm public unrest following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

“I spoke to schoolchildren about MLK’s legacy and how he taught us to use our voices rather than violence,” Norman said. “I hope my efforts helped.”

In addition to his success as an NFL player and civil rights advocate, Norman also found success in business, including real estate, wholesale fuel distribution, petroleum transportation, fleet maintenance and more, according to his website.

Norman also founded The Dallas Together Forum, which comprised Fortune 500 CEOs in an effort to address economic hardships experienced by minorities and women. He also served on a number of civic boards in Dallas, including the Dallas Urban League, Goodwill Industries, the Martin Luther King Center, Dallas Women’s Foundation, the Dallas Association for the Mentally Challenged, and more.

In 2021, Norman wrote his autobiography, “The Pettis Norman Story: A Journey through the Cotton Fields, to the Super Bowl, and into Servant Leadership.”

“A strong advocate for civil rights and dedicated to creating opportunities for all, Mr. Norman was a respected business executive and civic leader, known widely for his accomplishments both on and off the field,” Norman’s family said in a statement, according to NBC Sports. “He leaves behind a legacy of selfless leadership, advocacy on behalf of underserved people, and a deep commitment to his community.”

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