Dallas Cowboys legends Darren Woodson, DeMarcus Ware named finalists to Hall of Fame

Clarence E. Hill Jr.
Tim Sharp/AP archives

Former Dallas Cowboys stars Darren Woodson and DeMarcus Ware are among 15 National Football League legends who have reached the doorstep of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as finalists for the Class of 2023.

Ware is a finalist for a second straight year and a favorite to be inducted in 2023.

Ware played for the Cowboys from 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys before finishing his final three seasons with the Denver Broncos in 2014-16.

He led the Cowboys in sacks for eight seasons, 2005-2012 and led the NFL with 20 sacks (2008) and 15.5 sacks (2010).

He still holds the Cowboys career sacks record with 117. He was voted first-team All-Pro four times (2007-09, 2011); second-team All-Pro three times (2006, 2010, 2012) and selected to nine Pro Bowls (2007-2013, 2015-16).

He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Ware won Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos and end his career with 138.5 sacks.

Ware played on only one team with a losing record during his career and helped lead his teams to five playoff appearances.

Woodson played his entire career with the Cowboys, 1992-2003.

Woodson, who was selected in second round in the 1992 NFL Draft with a pick obtained as part of the Herschel Walker trade, was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams with Dallas (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX).

He ended his playing career as the Cowboys’ all-time leader in tackles with 1,350. He earned first-team All-Pro honors four seasons (1994-96, 1998) and chosen to participate in five Pro Bowls (1994-98).

He elected to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2015

The slate of candidates in the Modern-Era Player category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets virtually prior to Super Bowl LVII.

The Class of 2023 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 9 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast from Phoenix on NFL Network, NBC and Peacock.

The complete list of finalists include:

  • Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

  • Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

  • Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions

  • Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

  • Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

  • Albert Lewis, Cornerback – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

  • Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs

  • Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns

  • Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys

  • DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos

  • Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

  • Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

  • Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

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