A total of 10 former Cowboys players, coaches, and executives have advanced to the next round as the Pro Football Hall of Fame works toward its final list of inductees for the Class of 2026.
Six players, three each on defense and offense, one coach, and three executives hope to join the 32 former Cowboys already inducted into the Hall.
Defensive back Darren Woodson and tight end Jason Witten top the list of former players. They are joined by offensive tackle Erik Williams, linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, and defensive back Everson Walls.
Cowboys defensive back Darren Woodson is a HOF candidate in 2026
The sixth is running back Eddie George, who played the final year of his career (2004) in Dallas after eight years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans.
Former running back and assistant coach (1960/70s) Dan Reeves is a finalist as a coach (1977-2003). The Cowboys’ founding owner, Clint Murchson Jr., is a contributor’s finalist.
Joining Murchison in that group are John Wooten and Frank “Bucko” Kilroy.
Wooten was a scout for the Cowboys from 1975-79, then served two years as Director of Pro Personnel before leaving the team in 1982 to work for the Eagles. Kilroy served as a scout for Dallas from 1965-70.
The final list of inductees for 2026 will be announced later this month.
Here is the full list of finalists still in the running.
Modern Era Players
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees
Eli Manning
Philip Rivers
Running Backs
Warrick Dunn
Eddie George
Frank Gore
Marshawn Lynch
LeSean McCoy
Lorenzo Neal (FB)
Fred Taylor
Ricky Watters
Receivers
Anquan Boldin
Larry Fitzgerald
Torry Holt
Jimmy Smith
Steve Smith Sr.
Hines Ward
Reggie Wayne
Tight Ends
Greg Olsen
Jason Witten
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten rumbles downfield as Atlanta's Thomas DeCoud looks to make the tackle during this October 25, 2009 contest at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Richard Paolinelli.
Offensive Linemen
Willie Anderson (T)
Lomas Brown (T)
Ruben Brown (G)
Jahri Evans (G)
Olin Kreutz (C)
Nick Mangold (C)
Logan Mankins (G)
Maurkice Pouncey (C)
Richmond Webb (T)
Erik Williams (T)
Steve Wisniewski (G)
Marshal Yanda (G)
Defensive Linemen
John Abraham (DE)
Robert Mathis (DE)
Haloti Ngata (DT)
Simeon Rice (DE)
Vince Wilfork (DT)
Kevin Williams (DT)
Linebackers
London Fletcher
James Harrison
Luke Kuechly
Terrell Suggs
Defensive Backs
Rodney Harrison (S)
Asante Samuel (CB)
Earl Thomas (S)
Charles Tillman (CB)
Troy Vincent (CB)
Darren Woodson (S)
Special Teams
Gary Anderson (K)
Shane Lechler (P)
Brian Mitchell (KR/PR)
Adam Vinatieri (K)
Senior Players
Quarterbacks
Ken Anderson
Charlie Conerly
Roman Gabriel
Running Backs
Roger Craig
Chuck Foreman
Cecil Isbell
Paul “Tank” Younger
Receivers
Isaac Curtis
Lavvie Dilweg
Henry Ellard
Harold Jackson
Stanley Morgan
Art Powell
Otis Taylor
Offensive Linemen
Joe Jacoby
Mike Kenn
Bob Kuechenberg
Jim Tyrer
Al Wistert
Defensive Linemen
C. Greenwood
Jim Marshall
Linebackers
Carl Banks
Maxie Baughan
Larry Grantham
Lee Roy Jordan
Clay Matthews Jr.
Tommy Nobis
Defensive Backs
Dick Anderson
Bobby Boyd
Albert Lewis
Eddie Meador
Lemar Parrish
Everson Walls
Special Teams
Steve Tasker
Coaches
Bill Arnsparger
Bill Belichick
Tom Coughlin
Alex Gibbs
Mike Holmgren
Chuck Knox
Buddy Parker
Dan Reeves
Marty Schottenheimer
George Seifert
Mike Shanahan
Clark Shaughnessy
Contributors
S. “Bud” Adams
Roone Arledge
Howard Cosell
John Facenda
Mike Giddings
Ralph Hay
Frank “Bucko” Kilroy
Don Klosterman
Eddie Kotal
Robert Kraft
Virginia McCaskey
John McVay
Clint Murchison
Art Rooney Jr.
Clark Shaughnessy
Seymour Siwoff
Amy Trask
Jack Vainisi
Lloyd Wells
John Wooten
Buddy Young
Richard Paolinelli is a sports journalist and author. In addition to his work at InsideTheStar.com, he has a Substack -- Dispatches From A SciFi Scribe – where he discusses numerous topics, including sports in general. He started his newspaper career in 1991 with the Gallup (NM) Independent before going to the Modesto (CA) Bee, Gustine (CA) Press-Standard, and Turlock (CA) Journal -- where he won the 2001 Best Sports Story, in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. He then moved to the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Tracy (CA) Press, Patch and finished his career in 2011 with the San Francisco (CA) Examiner. He has written two Non-Fiction sports books, 11 novels, and has over 30 published short stories.