The Cowboys have a pair of legends in the final 15 candidates for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that will be announced in February.
For Darren Woodson, he's no stranger to being a finalist as he has now been in this position for four straight years. Jason Witten, however, is on the ballot for the first time and has made it as a finalist.
Witten is the Cowboys' all-time leader in receptions (1,215), receiving yards (12,977) and game played (255). He's also one of two players in team history to make 11 Pro Bowls.
Woodson, the Cowboys' all-time leader in tackles with 1,350, played 12 seasons from 1992-2003. He's a five-time Pro Bowler and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls.
Witten and Woodson will need 80 percent of the vote from the selection committee to be included the class, which will be announced at NFL Honors during Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
Here's a full list of the 15 modern-era candidates:
- Willie Anderson, Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
- Drew Brees, Quarterback — 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints
- Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
- Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver — 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals
- Frank Gore, Running Back — 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
- Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Luke Kuechly, Linebacker — 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
- Eli Manning, Quarterback — 2004-2019 New York Giants
- Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End — 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
- Adam Vinatieri, Kicker — 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts
- Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
- Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle — 2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
- Jason Witten, Tight End — 2003-2017, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
- Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
- Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle — 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens
Jason Witten, in his first year of eligibility, is among the 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Witten is considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and has the stats to back it up. He's also one of the greatest players – at any position – in Cowboys history, Witten is the Cowboys' all-time leader in receptions (1,215), receiving yards (12,977), games played (255) and is tied for the most Pro Bowls (11) in team history.
Darren Woodson has made it to the finalist round of the Pro Football Hall of Fame three straight years.
He is the Cowboys' all-time leading tackler and is a member of the Ring of Honor, having made five Pro Bowls and being a key member of three Super Bowl teams in the 1990s.
For the first time in his career, veteran Demarcus Lawrence was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-touchdown performance last week with the Seahawks, who had a Week 10 win over Arizona. Lawrence has scored one touchdown in his career, but tripled the number with a pair of first-half scores last week against the Cardinals. Lawrence became the fourth player in NFL history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in the same game. It's his first honor of any kind since he was the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in 2017 as a member of the Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith (77) looks on during NFL football practice at the team's training facility in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
No surprise here, but Darren Woodson and Jason Witten were both among the 52 modern-era candidates that were selected for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Woodson, a three-time finalist, is no stranger to this round and remains hopeful this will be the year his name is called into Canton. For Witten, this is his first-year eligible for induction, but considering his statistics and longevity of greatness, he is expected to make at least the finalist stage as well.
Other former Cowboys on the list of 52 were offensive tackle Erik Williams and running back Eddie George, who just spent one season in Dallas.
Season Over
Former Cowboys draft pick Dorance Armstrong, a starter for the Commanders, was lost for the season with a torn ACL injury he suffered at AT&T Stadium last week against his former team. Armstrong started the game but sustained the injury early on. MRI results revealed he will require season-ending surgery. In his second season with Washington and eighth overall, Armstrong was having one of his best seasons, already with 5.5 sacks through the first six games. He was more than on pace to eclipse his two best seasons of his career – 8.5 sacks with Dallas in 2022 and 7.5 sacks with Dallas in 2023.
Rico's Records
Former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had a career day with the Panthers, rushing for 206 yards against the Dolphins. It was not only a career-high for Dowdle, but he became the third undrafted running back in NFL history have a 200-yard rushing day. Dowdle faces his former team the next week in Carolina when the Cowboys come to town.
Former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells has been a difference-maker at every stop along his Hall of Fame career.
Before he got to Dallas in 2003, Parcells was also the coach for the Giants, Patriots and Jets.
During a Week 3 home game in New England, the Patriots honored Parcells in their Hall of Fame. He was the head coach there from 1993-96 with two playoff appearances, including the Super Bowl in 1996. That loss to the Packers proved to be his final game with the Patriots. He later coached for the Jets and then the Cowboys.
Parcells was part of the Patriots HOF class that also honored receiver Julian Edelman.
As expected, former Cowboys legend Jason Witten has made it on the list for the first time as the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its modern-era nominees.
Witten is among 128 former players, which also includes nine other players who have played for the Cowboys at one time. Over the next few months, the list will be trimmed to 50 and then 25 semifinalists before getting down to 15 finalists as Super Bowl LX nears.
Witten is the Cowboys' all-time leader in catches (1,215), receiving yards (12,977) and games played (255) and his 11 Pro Bowls is tied for the most (Bob Lilly) by a Cowboys player.
Other players on the list who spent most of their career with the Cowboys include three-time HOF finalist Darren Woodson, Erik Williams, La'Roi Glover, Dat Nguyen and Jay Ratliff. Other players who played in Dallas at one point but starred primarily with other teams that made the list include Randall Cunningham, Eddie George, Jimmy Smith and Brian Waters.
Remembering D.D. Lewis
One of the most productive linebackers in Cowboys history passed away in mid-September at the age of 79.
D.D. Lewis played 13 seasons with the Cowboys starting in 1968. And then after a one-year leave because of his military obligations, Lewis returned to play 12 more from 1970-81.
Lewis ranks 13th in Cowboys history with 186 games played.
A full story chronicling Lewis' life and career was written on DallasCowboys.com.
Rushing to Denver
The Broncos have added former Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn to their practice squad this week.
Vaughn, a sixth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2023, spent two full years on the roster and three preseasons.
But he was cut at the end of preseason this year by the Cowboys, who chose not to add him to the practice squad. Vaughn is now with the Broncos, who play the Cowboys on Oct. 26 in Denver.
Welcome Back
The Cowboys will face a former third-round pick in Chauncey Golston, who is now a member of the Giants.
Golston, who played four years in Dallas from 2021-24, signed a free-agent deal with the Giants in the offseason.
He's part of a deep and talented Giants D-line that features the likes of Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Coaching that Giants' D-line is veteran coach Andre Patterson, who served as the Cowboys' defensive line coach from 2000-02.
Nahshon Wright
The Cowboys' third-round pick in 2021 (99th overall), Nahshon Wright made a huge play for the Bears on Monday night. His 73-yard interception return gave the Bears a two-score lead against the Vikings, who then rallied for the win in the fourth quarter.
Wright began his career with the Cowboys, playing three full years in Dallas before joining the Vikings last year. He ended up with the Bears this season and played most of the game due to several injuries in Chicago's secondary.
The touchdown was the first defensive score for Wright, but not his first overall. As a rookie in 2021, Wright recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown with the Cowboys in a win over the Falcons.
Panthers add 2 to practice squad
A pair for former Cowboys draft picks have joined the Carolina Panthers. Israel Mukuamu, a sixth-round pick in 2022, and Tommy Akingbesote, a rookie seventh-round pick this past year, were both released at the end of the preseason by the Cowboys.
The Panthers added both players to their practice squad this week following a Week 1 loss to the Jaguars.
Mukuamu played in 50 games with the Cowboys, totaling three interceptions, including two last year. He had a pick in the preseason this year.
Akingbesote played in all three preseason games for the Cowboys, who had also drafted Jay Toia in the seventh round.
Micah makes GB debut
Micah Parsons played in his first game with the Packers after being traded by the Cowboys 10 days earlier.
Parsons helped the Packers to a 27-13 win over the Lions, recording a sack and three pressures.
Wearing No. 1, Parsons dropped Jared Goff for a fourth-quarter sack, giving him now 53.5 career sacks.
The Packers will play at the Cowboys on Sept. 29 at AT&T Stadium.
New Seahawk
Former Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was impressive in his first game with the Seahawks, recording six tackles, including two TFL's.
Seattle fell short to NFC West rival San Francisco but Lawrence, wearing No. 0, seems to be a solid addition to a line that is coached by former Cowboys D-line coach Aden Durde.
In the photo, D-Law celebrated with the ball after a blocked field goal by the Seahawks.
Lawrence played 11 seasons in Dallas (2014-2024) and his 61.5 career sacks ranks 10th in team history.
First Pick
In his debut with the Jaguars, Jourdan Lewis picked off a pass in a win over the Panthers last Sunday.
Lewis, a third-round pick of the Cowboys in 2017, spent eight years in Dallas before signing with Jacksonville last offseason.
Lewis celebrated the pick with his teammates as the Jags went to 1-0 with a home win over Carolina.
Amari Cooper retires from Raiders
Just a few days before the first game, Amari Cooper decided to hang it up.
As a member of the Raiders, the team that drafted him back in 2015, Cooper had played for the Cowboys, Browns and Bills before deciding to join the Raiders again back on Aug. 26. But the second stint lasted just less than two weeks.
"The timing wasn't right for him," Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. "He didn't feel like he was ready to do it. He wanted a shot, and we gave him a shot. Much respect for him making that decision. Wish him the best."
Cooper played in Dallas from 2018-2020, earning two Pro Bowl selections in 2018 and 2019. He played in more games (56), caught more passes (292), for more yards (3,893) and more TDs (27) than with any other team.
Remembering Lee Roy Jordan
One of the greatest defensive players in Cowboys history, Lee Roy Jordan passed away at the age of 84.
Jordan, once described as the "quarterback of the defense" by Tom Landry, played in four Super Bowls and was a member of the Ring of Honor.
Here's a full story on the passing of Jordan, written by DallasCowboys.com.
