Former Dallas Cowboys WR and NBC DFW Out of Bounds co-host Drew Pearson is taking on a new role -- that of general manager for the Indoor Football League's Allen Wrangers.
Pearson said he was brought in by his friend and former Cowboys teammate Tony Hill, who worked with the city of Allen to secure a home for the franchise.
"I'm happy to be the GM of the Allen Wranglers. This is an exciting time for us, because everything is new for us," Pearson said.
While the team is new, the league is not. The IFL, started by two Texans in 2003, has grown from six teams to 22.
"Indoor football is an exciting, affordable, competitive-type football game where you're close to the action. You know, you go to Cowboys Stadium, you pay all that money for a ticket and the players look so small because you're sitting so far away," said Pearson. "You don't have that in indoor football, you're right up close to the action."
Allen will be in the Lone Star Division, facing opponents from Amarillo, Midland-Odessa and Oklahoma City. The league, though, is nationwide, with teams as far away as Pennsylvania and Green Bay.
The Wranglers will play seven home games in 2011 at the Allen Event Center, with the inaugural game being at home against the West Texas Roughnecks on Feb. 28.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
This on Pearson from a Wranglers news release:
Pearson, 59, played at the University of Tulsa before being selected as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 1973. As a Cowboy, Pearson recorded 489 receptions, 7,882 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns. He was elected to the NFL 1970's All-Decade team and had All-Pro selections in 1974, 1976 and 1977. Pearson led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances, winning the title in 1978. Pearson is also known for catching the game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach that coined the phrase "hail mary."
Since retirement from the NFL, Pearson has been primarily involved in broadcasting and marketing, though he did have quick forays into coaching and team management with the Dallas Texans arena team in 1991 and the XFL's NY/NJ Hitmen in 2001, respectively.
