The Pro Football Hall of Fame has moved one step closer to its final group of inductees for the class of 2026.
On Tuesday, the selection committee announced its 15 finalists, and that group includes a pair of Dallas Cowboys: former tight end Jason Witten and safety Darren Woodson.
The remaining 2026 modern-era finalists include Willie Anderson, Drew Brees, Jahri Evans, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Kevin Williams, and Marshal Yanda.
Witten, in his first year of eligibility, played 17 seasons in the NFL, 16 of them with the Cowboys (2003-2017, 2019) and played his final season (2020) with the Las Vegas Raiders.
During his time in Dallas, the former 2003 third-round draft selection recorded 1,215 career receptions, 12,977 yards, and 72 touchdowns. His receptions and yards rank first in franchise history, and his 255 career games played and 229 consecutive starts are also the most by a Cowboy.
Witten was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times in his career, was a two-time first-team All-Pro selection (2007, 2010) and a two-time second-team All-Pro selection (2008, 2012), and was the 2012 recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Witten was always known as “Ole Reliable” due to him always coming up big in critical and key down situations and was quarterback Tony Romo’s biggest go to target in his career.
“I think Jason Witten is in the discussion for best Cowboy of all time, and there are some great ones,” Romo said in 2014, via ESPN. “He might be the best Dallas Cowboy of all time.”
Woodson has been on the ballot for 18 years and is now a finalist for the fourth consecutive year.
The legendary safety spent his entire 13-year career (1992-2004) with the Cowboys.
A former second-round pick from Arizona State in the 1992 NFL Draft, Woodson found immediate success in his career and, as a key piece to the Cowboys’ legendary dynasty of the 90’s, won three Super Bowls over the first four years of his career.
Regarded by many as the greatest safety in Cowboys history, Woodson went on to earn five straight Pro Bowl selections from 1994 to 1998, and three consecutive First-Team All-Pro nods from 1994 to 1996.
Woodson was well known for his style of play. He was one of the hardest-hitting safeties, could dominate near the line of scrimmage, and could cover opposing receivers in the slot.
He was the last active player still on the roster from the Cowboys’ dynasty era. Hall of Fame guard Larry Allen was the final dynasty-era player overall, but he finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers and retired in 2008.
Woodson was inducted into the Cowboys’ ring of honor in 2015.
“For 13 years, [Woodson] was everything you could ask for,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said back in 2021. “Unselfish, reliable, dependable, a team player first and a team leader always. He’s a living, breathing example of the saying that character does matter.”
Woodson’s 1,350 career tackles are the most in team history, and he went on to record 23 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 11.0 sacks, and two defensive touchdowns.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will reveal the class of 2026 on Thursday, February 5 during the annual NFL Honors in San Francisco.
In total, the Cowboys currently have 32 members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
