GLENDALE, Ariz. – Dallas Cowboys rookie offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete made history Saturday as the first member of the Navajo Nation — the largest Native American reservation in the United States — to play in an NFL game.
During the Cowboys’ 34-14 preseason victory on the road over the Arizona Cardinals, Pete saw firsthand what his accomplishment meant to his community. Thousands of members of the Navajo Nation, including President Buu Nygren, traveled south to Glendale, Arizona to show their support.
When Pete entered the game in the fourth quarter, the crowd erupted. He played six snaps on a drive that resulted in a Phil Mafah touchdown, earning a standing ovation from fans when he returned to the sideline.
“The standing ovation was incredible,” Pete said. “I want to take a moment to thank all the fans and the people who showed up to support me, celebrate my name and wear my jersey. I lost count of how many Navajo Nation flags I saw. I saw a Salish Nation flag as well, which was awesome. It’s definitely etched in the history books.”
Pete, 23, anticipated some representation at the game, given the large Native American population in the Phoenix metropolitan area, but he was stunned by the turnout when he faced the crowd and raised his helmet as fans chanted his name.
“I’m trying to find the words for how special and impactful that really was,” Pete said. “The fact that I am able to participate on the field, conduct my play to the best of my ability and have fans support me for who I am — it’s incredible.”
The next crucial step in Pete’s career will take place on Sunday, when NFL teams announce their final roster cuts. NFL teams carry a full training camp roster of 90 players until the mandatory cutdown day. All 32 teams must have a 53-man roster named for opening day of the regular season which takes place Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Pete, who plays right guard for the Cowboys, was listed third on the depth chart at that position behind Tyler Booker and Trevor Keegan going into the final days of the preseason.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted the significance of Pete’s reception, calling it a unique moment in his coaching career.
“That was really cool,” Schottenheimer said. “We had him break down the team, and his comments were really special — talking about the brotherhood, the star and the importance it holds for him. These guys love him.”
When addressing his teammates, Pete shared a message that resonated throughout the locker room: “Fate brought us here as strangers, but this game, this star and this team will make us brothers.”
Pete was born in Ronan, Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. His father, Natani, is from the Navajo and Salish tribes and hails from Arlee, Montana, while his mother, Geraldine, is Navajo and comes from Sweetwater, Arizona.
Pete grew up in Missoula, Montana, and was a star athlete as a child, winning a gold medal in judo at the 2011 Big Sky State Games in the 8–9 year old age group. He first played football in the seventh grade while also taking part in basketball, wrestling, track and field, and cross country, but gravitated towards football after moving with his family in Apache County, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation before starting high school.
While attending Shiprock High, Pete joined the football team as a sophomore and was a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines.
As a senior, Pete was named first-team all-district on offense and second-team all-district on defense. However, the season was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected his recruiting.
He received several offers from NCAA Division II and Division III programs before committing to New Mexico State University as a walk-on, signing with the Aggies in 2021 and playing three seasons.
Pete transferred to the University of Kentucky before the start of his senior campaign, He was named the starting left tackle ahead of their 2025 season opener and went on to start all 12 games that year, recording a team-high 35 knockdowns.