The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one step closer to the final group of inductees for the Class of 2026.
On Tuesday The selection committee announced 15 finalistsand this group includes a couple Dallas Cowboys: Former tight end Jason Witten and cornerback Darren Woodson.
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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 played 17 seasons in his first year 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 pick 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 in Cowboys history.
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Witten was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times during 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 recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012.
Witten was always known as “Ole the Reliable” due to the fact that he always performed well in crunch and crunch situations and was quarterback Tony Romo's best catch of his career.
“I think Jason Witten is in the conversation for the best cowboy of all time, and there are some great cowboys out there,” Romo said in 2014. via ESPN. “He may 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 year in a row.
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The legendary defensive back spent his entire 13-year career (1992-2003) with the Cowboys.
A former second-round pick out of Arizona State in the 1992 NFL Draft, Woodson enjoyed immediate success in his career and, as a key member of the legendary '90s Cowboys dynasty, won three Super Bowls in the first four years of his career.
Woodson, considered by many to be the greatest defensive player in Cowboys history, made five straight Pro Bowls from 1994 to 1998 and was named to the All-Pro First Team three straight times from 1994 to 1996.
Woodson was well known for his style of play. He was one of the toughest defensive backs, could dominate near the line of scrimmage and had the ability to cover opposing receivers in the slot.
He was the last active member of the Cowboys' dynasty roster. Hall of Fame quarterback Larry Allen was the last player of the dynasty era overall, but he finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers and retired in 2008.
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Woodson was inducted into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor in 2015.
“For 13 years [Woodson] It was everything you could ask for,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “Unselfish, dependable, dependable, above all a team player and always a team leader. He is a living example that character matters.”
Woodson's 1,350 career tackles are the most in team history, as he recorded 23 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 11.0 sacks and two defensive touchdowns.
