Former Dallas Cowboy “Rocket” Ismail visits El Paso to talk faith & football

Raghib “Rocket” Ismail was in El Paso Sunday, talking about faith and football at the Destiny Family Christian Center.

The retired wide receiver and kick returner played for both the American and Canadian Football leagues.

“Rocket” came to prominence after helping lead the University of Notre Dame to a College Football National Championship in 1988, and two Orange Bowl appearances.

From 1991-92 he played for the Toronto Argonauts, before coming back to the U.S. where he spent two seasons with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.

Ismail went on to sign with the Carolina Panthers for a couple years before heading to the Dallas Cowboys from 1999-2001 where he finished his career.

He recorded two 1,000-year receiveing seasons in the NFL and was a CFL All-Star.

“Rocket” attributed his success to his faith in God.

Although he had fame, money, and access, he said he was missing the feeling of having total joy and peace.

“It allowed me to be in an environment where there’s a lot of things that can take your peace, and I was able to have the tools to combat those things so I could have peace in an enviroment where that’s very rare.”

At 47, he said he is still on the journey trying to mature and grow in his faith in God.

Ismail also had a message for the Dallas Cowboys rookies, encouraging them to each find total peace.

With the success of the young team last year, there are questions whether or not the Cowboys will be as good this year.

Ismail said with all the changes in special teams and on the defensive side of the ball there are some questions, especially because there isn’t a true defensive end.

Ismail says offensively, the team should be better.

He said although other teams will now know what to expect from the Cowboys, Ismail says Jason Garrett and the coaching staff is sophisticated enough to nullify that advantage.

“The young men, the quarterbacks, offense, running backs, will still be able to prosper,” Ismail said.