Las Vegas – Darren Woodson believes he should be a Hall of Famer. Darren Woodson believes he will be in the Hall of Fame one day.
But that day has yet to come, as the former Cowboys safety has been left on the doorstep of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.
Woodson, a repeat finalist, was ineligible for the 2024 class, which was announced Thursday before NFL Honors, just three days before Super Bowl III in Las Vegas.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class included Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, Andre Johnson, Patrick Willis, Steve McMichael and Randy Gradishar.
“I'm happy with the players who were nominated. They deserve it,” Woodson said Thursday. “I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I'm disappointed I didn't make the Hall of Fame. You can't control the outcome. It's been that way my whole life. I am.”
Woodson is the Cowboys' all-time leader in tackles with 1,350 and played 12 seasons from 1992 to 2003. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls.
“There's nothing you can do. It's not like you can go back and play this game or do anything to convince anybody. That's the reality,” Woodson said. “The work is out there. The hardest thing for me is that I put this work out there so long ago, and so much of it is forgotten over time. It's terrible, but that's the reality.”
The Hall of Fame induction process begins each year with more than 100 candidates, which are narrowed down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists, who are announced in December. This is the second year Woodson has advanced to the top 15.
A year ago, he traveled to his hometown of Phoenix to make the announcement and said he was “disappointed, but not devastated” by the news.
This year, Woodson's feelings have been similar, especially among those closest to him.
“I'm not so disappointed in myself, but I'm more disappointed in my family. They've been through this with me for a long time. What happens is what happens. I am happy that this will happen soon.”
Whether it's next year, the year after, or a few years from now, Woodson is confident he'll wear that coveted gold jacket someday.
“I'm confident it will happen,” Woodson said. “Again, it has not been an easy path for me in my life. Nothing has come easy for me. I am the owner of two businesses. There are ups and downs. But I strongly believe that I deserve it, and I still believe that one day it will happen.”
