Most professional football players gain fans and win fame from what they do during the game. In the case of rookie offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete, millions came to know him from what he said afterward. Pete, the first Navajo player to sign an NFL contract, was invited by the coach to address his team in the locker room, and his words went viral. Amna Nawaz spoke with Pete about his journey.
Amna Nawaz:
Most professional football players gain fans and win fame from what they do during the game. In the case of rookie offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete, millions came to know him from what he said after.
After his Dallas Cowboys preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals on August 22, Pete was invited by the coach to address his team in the locker room. His words went viral. Take a listen.
Shiyazh Pete, Professional Football Player:
Fate brought us here as strangers, but this game, this star, this team will make us brothers.
(Cheering)
Amna Nawaz:
Pete already made history as the first Navajo player ever to sign an NFL contract. But just this week, as teams made their cuts, Dallas announced that Pete had not made the squad. He’s now hoping to continue his football journey with another team.
And Shiyazh Pete joins us now from New Mexico.
Shiyazh, welcome to the show. It’s great to talk to you.
Shiyazh Pete:
Yes, thanks for having me on, Amna. Good to be here.
Amna Nawaz:
So I have to start with that moment that we just showed after the Arizona game. You’re in the locker room. Everyone’s celebrating. Coach Schottenheimer invites you to say a few words. What do you think in that moment? What’s going through your mind?
Shiyazh Pete:
Well, I mean, it was — it was awe-inspiring to see such a massive crowd show out for the game, and specifically for me. It was awesome.
But I will say that couldn’t have happened without the Cowboys. And for that, I thank them for it. I mean, without their reputation and status as an NFL club, I wouldn’t have been able to obtain that kind of platform. So I’d like to say thanks to that.
What was going through my head was a lot of stuff, but about the game, about my performance, about what’s for lunch after or what’s for dinner after, but, most importantly, what am I going to say? I know I’m going to have to say something about that. And those words that I mentioned, they were my own, but I will say they — the speech, the structure of it was heavily inspired from a video game series “Halo 2.”
So there was some inspiration to it, and I’m not going to say it was, like, all me, but I got it from a really cool video game I used to play as a kid.
Amna Nawaz:
I mean, it was just 59 words. That speech inspired headlines and media coverage and your face, like, splashed across TV screens across the country. Did the reaction to the speech surprise you?
Shiyazh Pete:
From the moment the words left my mouth, I knew I was like, dang, that was some really good stuff.
(Laughter)
Shiyazh Pete:
Really good energy, positive energy, the ability to speak from my heart was displayed there. And it was a really good moment and a really good night. And it was something I have always wanted to showcase. And so it was quite special, indeed.
Amna Nawaz:
You mentioned the crowd. At that game, there was a very large, very vocal contingent. Thousands of fans, members of the Navajo Nation who drove to Arizona traveled just to see you. They were chanting your name. They were waving Navajo Nation flags. What was that like for you during the game?
Shiyazh Pete:
I will say I wasn’t expecting that large of a turnout, and I got to see firsthand the strength and power of the Navajo Nation people.
It was really special to be appreciated and welcomed and supported and cheered for by the Navajo Nation people, all of Native people in general. It was quite special.
Amna Nawaz:
We mentioned you’re the first ever Navajo player to even sign an NFL deal, and now you’re looking for a new team, I know, hoping to continue your career.
Do you think about what that means for all the other young players out there, members of the Navajo Nation, to watch you, to see you in this position right now?
Shiyazh Pete:
I’m very thankful I got the opportunity with the Cowboys, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.
When it comes to the youth and the fans and people looking from afar to me, I have done — I have done a great thing. And to be able to display that and to represent my community in the best light possible has been a privilege, to say the least. And I have been taking some time outside of football, instead of my career, to pay it back, to pay it forward to the youth.
And I have attended my former high school and have been motivating and giving words of wisdom to the youth and enlightening them about the — how far the journey can take you if you put in the hard work and dedication, and if you have a vision and you really want to do something and you stick your mind to it, and you put in the work day in and day out.
To be an impact on so many people, again, is a huge responsibility. And it’s a privilege, again.
Amna Nawaz:
Shiyazh Pete, I know you have a lot of fans out there cheering for you who want to see you join a team. We wish you all the best of luck on your journey ahead. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Shiyazh Pete:
Thank you, Amna.
