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A former Dallas Cowboys player who became a Hollywood actor has passed away after a long career in acting.

A former Dallas Cowboys player who found success in Hollywood as an actor has passed away. Sam Scarber, who started his NFL career as a running back with the Cowboys, died on March 8 at 76 years old.

“Sam Scarber, a former NFL running back who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and later had a prolific acting career in television and film, has died at the age of 76,” National Today reported in a Sunday, March 28 feature.

The report adds that “Scarber played two seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers before retiring due to injury. He then went on to appear in numerous TV shows and movies over the following decades.”

Ex-Dallas Cowboys Player Went on to Appear in ‘Cheers,’ ‘Seinfeld’

Scarber rose to success in sports at O’Fallon Technical High School in St. Louis. He played both football and basketball at the University of New Mexico.

According to research from Sports Reference, Scarber notched carries for 374 times for 1,531 yards and 16 touchdowns with the Lobos’ football team. He also scored 13 of those as a senior in 1970, which was top ranked in the Western Athletic Conference and ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division I.

Former UNM quarterback and administrator Chuck Roberts said of the player in 2018, “Sam was a great athlete — big, strong, and more than that, really dedicated to the game and worked hard at it, so I assumed there would be things beyond UNM for him.”

The Dallas Cowboys selected Scarber in the third round of the 1971 NFL draft as the 69th overall pick. But, he was waived before the regular season opener. He went on to play in the NFL, though, including for the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos from 1971-73 and later with the Detroit Wheels of the World Football League. Scarber also played with the San Diego Chargers in 1975 and Oakland Raiders in 1977.

Outside of the NFL, Scarber went to Los Angeles and started an acting career. He appeared on shows such as “Seinfeld,” “Cheers” and “All in the Family.” He was inducted into the University of New Mexico’s athletics Hall of Honor in 2018.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Scarber’s family during this difficult time. Even though he was only with the Cowboys for a short time, he’s still a part of the franchise’s history.

Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft

Switching gears to the 2026 NFL draft, in a Friday, March 27 feature for the NFL’s official website, analyst and expert Mike Brand discusses what he believes will happen during the draft. As for methodology, Brand explains, “NFL IQ powered by Amazon Quick helped me pressure-test team needs, draft capital and realistic outcomes before putting this mock together.

For the Cowboys, he has them going for Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee to fill their cornerback needs.

“McCoy’s ACL injury could create a value opportunity here, with a top-10 talent potentially sliding because he just missed the entire 2025 season,” he states in the feature. “And with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker boasting a strong track record of developing corners such as Patrick Surtain II and Quinyon Mitchell, this feels like a natural spot for Dallas to invest in the position.”

Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson