“I handled contract negotiations for players and draft picks starting with second round picks. I was responsible for players like Drew Pearson, Billy Joe Dupree, Hollywood Henderson, guys during that era.”

Even though his tenure with the Cowboys ended in 1991, John Wooten’s transactions laid the foundation for the team’s tremendous resurgence in the ’90′s.

“I did the  Herschel Walker trade to the Minnesota Vikings that ultimately landed the Cowboys draft picks that later became players like Emmitt Smith, Jay Novacek, Darren Woodson and Russell Maryland.”

In 1992, after a stint working in the NFL League offices, Wooten was named Vice-President of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. At the time Wooten held the highest ranking ever given to an African-American executive in the NFL.

“I’m very proud of what we accomplished during my tenure at Philadelphia (1992-1998),” Wooten reflected. “We made the playoffs four years. My greatest claim, in my opinion came in 1995, when I signed Ray Rhodes to be head coach of the Eagles. We were in the playoffs every year with Ray. Ray won Coach of the Year once during that stretch. I’m also proud of the talent we assembled on our coaching staff. John Gruden, Bill Callahan, Sean Peyton and Emmitt Thomas were all on my staff.  Three of those guys have gone on to be head coaches and Emmitt was an interim head coach in Atlanta.”

You would think at this point in his career John Wooten, who had seen and done it all, could retire. Not exactly.

“I was ready to go home (retire) and chase that little white ball (golf) when I answered a request from Art Modell (owner) to assist Ozzie Newsome, who was the new GM of the Baltimore Ravens (formerly the Browns). Of course being a Brown at heart and Ozzie being one of my favorites, that offer was hard to turn down. I assisted Ozzie and “Shack” Harris as a personnel executive/ talent evaluator and we were fortunate enough to put together a Super Bowl champion (XXXVIII, 2001) there.”

Now at long last a rocking chair with his name on it was calling him at his suburban Dallas home. Finally John Wooten could relax and rest on his broad accomplishments. Well sort of. There was one more passion near and dear to his heart – providing others with the same opportunities he had been afforded, to have a career in the NFL.

In 2003, a movement led by noted attorney Johnnie Cochran and renowned labor attorney Cyrus Mehri met with Wooten and Kellen Winslow to discuss the lack of opportunities for minorities in the NFL outside of the playing field. From this meeting the Fritz Pollard Alliance (named for the HOF pioneer of professional football) was formed. The FPA is an advocacy group that promotes diversity and equality in the NFL’s hiring practices. Wooten has served as the organizations chairman since its inception.

“FPA is not an advocate for affirmative action,” Wooten explains. “All we ever asked for is an opportunity, primarily through the interview process. If there are 10 jobs we don’t take the position that Blacks should have three. I think the best people should have the jobs whoever they may be. If the best people are Black then they should get all 10 jobs. Do people play shenanigans with the process? Of course they do, but if you want to stay true and truly get the best person for a position you won’t. In the end it’s their loss.”

Under Wooten’s direction, FPA in conjunction with the NFL’s Committee on Diversity chaired by Steeler owner Dan Rooney has achieved tremendous success in all facets of front office positions. Whether it’s the NFL league office or the 32 franchises that make up the league, the hard work of the FPA and the Rooney Committee is evident.

Presently, the NFL has five African-American general managers, six head coaches and a host of other minority front office and assistant coaching and scouting positions.

NFL Sr. Executive Vice-President for Football Operations, Ray Anderson reflects on John Wooten’s 50 year contribution to the NFL.

“Respectfully, professionally and affectionately John Wooten is known as the Godfather, not just because of his age or longevity, but because of the breath and depth of his service and what he has meant to the NFL as a player, scout and front office executive. He has had an unbelievable presence aside from those roles with his work as chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. When you say John Wooten coupled with Dan Rooney you have two gentlemen who have made more of a difference for the cause of equal opportunity and diversity in the NFL than anyone that has ever graced our business.”