DARREN WOODSON | DALLAS COWBOYS RING OF HONOR | NOVEMBER 1, 2015
D
28
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
“To me, the Ring of Honor is the elite of the elite. That’s how I’ve always looked at it,” Woodson said. “That’s why I feel like it’s such a big deal for me. My kids will see my name in that stadium for the rest of their lives. And their kids’ kids. They’ll always know that it’s a select group that I’m in.”
Woodson’s versatility was always on display because he had the ability to hit and tackle like a strong safety, with the range and cover skills of a free safety, combined with the one-on-one matchup ability of a slot cornerback.
“He could do it all,” Dave Campo said. “He was big, smart, but he could really run. And that’s one of the things [former Cowboys head coach] Jimmy Johnson was always looking for. He wanted guys who could move.
“So when I went back to Dallas and we met as a staff and with the scouts and with Jimmy and Jerry, it wasn’t really a tough sell. The fact that he could play so many positions and could run like he did, we ended up taking him in the second round. And it turned out to be a great pick for us.”
“I came in spoiled. We won it in ’92 and ’93 and got close in ’94. We got back in ’95 and won it,” Woodson said. “I just wanted to win. That’s all I ever wanted. Records come and go and records get broken, but they can’t take those rings away from you – ever. That’s why we play the game.”
“He’s the best...and he needs to go into one other Hall of Fame.”-Mike Zimmer
INT
SPECIAL
TEAMS
TACKLES
PASS
DEF.
TACKLES FOR LOSS
TACKLES
1
1
3
2
2
1
1
5
2
5
0
0
23
134
7
2
11
11
13
10
9
18
9
23
2
19
95
15
2
9
7
8
11
5
10
8
12
4
4
49
4
4
9
3
3
4
3
5
6
3
4
1
1,350
99
73
131
123
128
136
97
116
144
113
155
33
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
Year
1992-2003
Punt Returns
YDS
YDS
YDS
YDS
YDS
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
Year
Kickoff Returns
Interceptions
Punt Returns
YDS
YDS
YDS
YDS
YDS
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
Year
Kickoff Returns
Interceptions
CAREER STATISTICS
TOTAL
2003
MORE PHOTOS
No matter the role, Woodson was willing
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Rain or shine, Woody was on the field.
1995
MORE PHOTOS
28 rallys the troops
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Woodson was known throughout the league as a punishing tackler
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Woodson pleads with official for right call
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Woody chases down a division foe
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Number 28 leads the charge
1995
MORE PHOTOS
Woodson proudly trots off after making an INT
2015
2004
1998
1994
1993
1992
2015
During training camp in Oxnard, Calif., owner Jerry Jones announced in a press conference that Woodson would become the 19th player to join the Ring of Honor on Nov. 1.
2004
After suffering a back injury before training camp that prevented him from playing all season, Woodson announced his retirement after 12 seasons.
1998
With 136 tackles, three sacks and an interception, Woodson earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection, making the NFL’s All-Star game for the fifth straight season.
With a career-high tying five interceptions, Woodson scored his first career touchdown in a clutch moment against the Eagles. Woodson’s 94-yard interception return for a score saved the day for the Cowboys.
1994
In his second season, but first as a starter, Woodson delivered two turnovers in the playoffs, picking off Brett Favre in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, followed by a fumble recovery against the Bills in Super Bowl XVIII
1993
Woodson is drafted 37th overall by Dallas in the 1992 NFL Draft. It was the second of two straight picks by the Cowboys, who selected Jimmy Smith (36th).
1992
Rollover to learn more
WOODY'S TIMELINE
espn football analyst - nfl live & sportscenter (2005-present)
arizona sports hall of fame member (2009)
nfl man of the year nominee/team winner (2000)
Dallas cowboys unsung hero award from NFLPA (97)
Ed block courage award winner (98)
3-time super bowl champion (xxvii, xxviii, xxx)
178 games played (162 starts)
cowboys franchise leader in tackles (1,350)
4-Time All-Pro first team (94,95,96,98)
5-Time Pro Bowler (94,95,96,97,98)
The Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler with 1,350 career stops, Darren Woodson is one of the greatest safeties of his era, earning five Pro Bowl selections. A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 1992, Woodson won two Super Bowl rings in his first two seasons, and three in a four-year span. Playing for 12 seasons, Woodson is the only player in Cowboys history to play for five different head coaches, beginning with Jimmy Johnson and ending with Bill Parcells. He enters the Ring of Honor as the 21st member and 19th player, becoming just the second true safety in the Ring of Honor along with Cliff Harris.
1992-2004
SAFETY
"He was a natural leader. When he spoke, people listened." -Jason Garrett
HONOR ROLL
RING OF HONOR
November 1, 2015
DARREN
WOODSON
FOREVER A COWBOY
