Dallas Cowboys rookie Shiyazh Pete earns standing ovation during preseason game

DALLAS - The Navajo Nation showed up for a Cowboys rookie in Arizona this weekend. Shiyazh Pete made history as the first Navajo man to sign with an NFL team.

Shiyazh Pete

What we know:

When Pete took the field on Saturday in Arizona, members of the Navajo Nation erupted in cheers.

Thousands of members of the Navajo Nation, including the president, made the short trip to Glendale to support Pete in his first NFL preseason appearance.

He entered the game in the fourth quarter and played six snaps. He also helped to lead the Cowboys to a fourth quarter touchdown.

When he returned to the bench after the play, he looked up to see a standing ovation.

What they're saying:

It was that moment, not the team’s 34-14 win, that had everyone talking, including Coach Brian Schottenheimer.

"I saw something that I’ve never seen before in 25 years in the NFL. An entire section cheering for one man," Schottenheimer said in the locker room.

Pete said the standing ovation was surreal. He struggled to find the English word to describe it and instead used the Navajo word "hózhó," with loosely means peace, harmony and balance.

"The standing ovation was incredible. I lost count of how many Navajo Nation flags I saw," Pete said. "Phoenix is home to a lot of Navajo people, a lot of Native Americans. What did I see? I saw hope, courage."

What's next:

Pete is still fighting for a spot on the roster as the Cowboys continue their preseason games and practices.          

Open Practice

Fans in North Texas will get their own chance to see Pete on Tuesday as open practices return to The Star in Frisco.

There will be two free open practice events this week beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Ford Center.

On Tuesday there will also be an opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

Dallas’ next game is on Friday against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium.

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