Darren Woodson's Hall of Fame Exclusion Inexcusable

Cowboys legend continues to be overlooked for football's highest honor

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Mickey Spagnola expresses outrage over the continued exclusion of former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, despite his impressive career statistics, accolades, and contributions to the team's success.

Why it matters

Woodson's omission from the Hall of Fame is seen as a glaring oversight, as he was a key part of the Cowboys' dominant defenses during their 1990s championship runs. His exclusion deprives fans of properly honoring and preserving the legacy of one of the franchise's all-time greats.

The details

Woodson is the Cowboys' all-time leader in tackles (1,350), solo tackles (787), and assisted tackles (563). He is also second in franchise history with 134 special teams tackles. Woodson was a 5-time Pro Bowler, 3-time first-team All-Pro, and was named to the 1992 NFL All-Rookie Team. Despite these impressive credentials, he has been passed over for Hall of Fame induction 18 times, including 4 times as a finalist.

  • Woodson played for the Cowboys from 1992 to 2003, winning 3 Super Bowls with the team.
  • He has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2009.

The players

Darren Woodson

A 3-time Super Bowl champion and the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leader in tackles, solo tackles, and assisted tackles.

Bill Bates

A Pro Bowl special teams player who spent his 15-year career primarily as a special teamer, with more special teams tackles than Woodson.

Charles Haley

One of 8 defensive players from the Cowboys inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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What they’re saying

“Why the heck not?”

— Mickey Spagnola, Cowboys Columnist (statenews.net)

“This Hall of Fame stuff should not just be about numbers, but it's about preserving stories into perpetuity. Woodson needs to be remembered as the heart and soul of these Cowboys defenses while winning those three Super Bowls, playing in four consecutive NFC title games.”

— Mickey Spagnola, Cowboys Columnist (statenews.net)

What’s next

The judge in Woodson's Hall of Fame case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to advance to the next round of voting.

The takeaway

Darren Woodson's exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a glaring oversight that deprives fans of properly honoring one of the Dallas Cowboys' all-time defensive greats, whose leadership and impact on the team's championship runs in the 1990s deserve to be enshrined in Canton.