Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Shiyazh Pete said the standing ovation he received from Navajo fans after Saturday night’s preseason game was a moment he’ll never forget.
Pete, the first member of the Navajo Nation to sign an NFL contract, saw flags, jerseys and faces from his community in the crowd.
“It was surreal. It’s hard to find the words to describe it. English probably isn’t the language I describe it in,” Pete said.
When a reporter asked Pete to explain what the moment meant, he switched to Navajo.
“So it was that,” Pete said.
When asked to translate, Pete simply said, “Folks back home, folks upstairs in our stadium, will know.”
Making the night even more special, Pete said his father was in the crowd celebrating his 54th birthday.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.