Former Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware, Darren Woodson, Chuck Howley and Zach Thomas are finalists for enshrinement with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023.
Ware is a finalist for the second year in a row while Woodson is a first-time finalist in his 15th year of eligibility.
Ware, whom many thought should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2022, played his first nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before being released in March 2014. He headed to Denver as a free agent in 2014 where he played three seasons and helped the team win Super Bowl 50. In April 2017, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
Woodson was a three-time All-Pro safety who helped Dallas win three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. He played his entire career with the Cowboys, from 1992 until 2003. Woodson is a Hall of Fame finalist for the first time in his 15th year of eligibility after getting to the semifinal stage six times.
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Howley, a senior finalist for the Hall of Fame, played outside linebacker for the Bears for two seasons before moving to Dallas to play for the Cowboys in 1961 after suffering a knee injury.
Howley played for the Cowboys until 1973 and, according to the hall, owns the distinction of being the only player in history to be named MVP of a Super Bowl from the losing team when Dallas lost Super Bowl V to the Colts 16-13.
Howley and the Cowboys went on to win their first title the next year, in 1971, beating the Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.
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Thomas, a Texas native, played his final year of pro football with the Cowboys in 2008 after spending his entire career with the Dolphins.
2023 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME FINALISTS
- 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 Raven
- 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
A maximum of five modern-day players can be elected for enshrinement in August to the Canton, Ohio, hall. The inductees will be announced on Feb. 9 at NFL Honors, a prime-time TV program hosted by Kelly Clarkson and airing on NBC 5 and Peacock.
