It was a tremendous summer for the Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio. Linebackers Chuck Howley and DeMarcus Ware were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even longtime Miami Dolphins' defender Zach Thomas spent the final season of his Hall of Fame career with Jerry Jones' club.
The 2023 regular season is just around the corner, however it's never a bad time to talk about NFL history.
The current Cowboys have veteran blockers such as tackle Tyron Smith and guard Zack Martin who will likely be in the discussions when it comes to the Hall of Fame when the time comes. As for these five gentlemen, they are eligible now and should get a closer look.
5. S Charlie Waters
His running mate at safety for a few years in the Dallas Cowboys' secondary, Cliff Harris, was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Charlie Waters was a third-round pick in 1970 from Clemson University. Harris was an undrafted free agent from Ouachita Baptist. The duo roamed Tom Landry's defensive backfield for nine seasons from 1970-78. That's because Waters missed the entire 1979 season knee injury. Meanwhile, that wound up being Harris' final year in the league.
The latter already has his bust in Canton, Ohio. As for Waters, he came back in 1980 and played two more seasons with the Cowboys. He was part of five Super Bowl teams that won titles in 1971 (VI) and 1977 (XII).
Waters played various roles during his early years in Dallas and settled in at strong safety in 1975. During his 11 NFL seasons, he came up with 41 interceptions, returning two for scores, and scooped up seven fumble recoveries. He's also been credited with seven sacks.
The three-time Pro Bowler is also co-owner of the league's postseason record for career interceptions (9), shared by Rams' and Bills' safety Bill Simpson and Pro Football Hall of Famers Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott.
4. DE Harvey Martin
It's safe to say that winning and being named Super Bowl MVP doesn't guarantee you a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it certainly doesn't hurt. There have been many great players who came up big in the biggest game of the year that earned the award and are now enshrined in Canton. There will be more once some of the other stars are Hall of Fame eligible.
One player has been eligible for some time but no luck so far. Defensive lineman Harvey Martin was a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1973 from Texas A&M-Commerce. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound performer would play 11 seasons for Tom Landry's squad and helped the team earn a title in 1977. He along with Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White were co-MVPs of the club's 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos (XII) at the Superdome.
Martin had a habit of coming up big in the postseason. He's credited with 17-plus sacks in 22 contests. He was also highly reliable. He missed only one game in 11 seasons and amassed an impressive 114.0 QB traps, two interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
The four-time Pro Bowler earned All-Pro honors and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in that Super Bowl-winning season of 1977 when he was credited with 20.0 sacks.
3. LB Lee Roy Jordan
As previously mentioned, the Cowboys saw a pair of their outstanding linebackers, Chuck Howley and DeMarcus Ware, enshrined in Canton, Ohio in the summer of 2023. The franchise has certainly had its share of solid players at this position. These days, pass-rushing phenom Micah Parsons — a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro in as many seasons — is arguably the Cowboys' best defensive player.
Other standouts over the years have included D.D. Lewis, Bob Breunig, Sean Lee, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Dexter Coakley and Ken Norton Jr., to name just a few.
Then there was middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. The former University of Alabama standout was a first-round pick in 1963. Starting in 1966, he didn't miss a game (154) his final 11 seasons in the league. Add in 19 postseason contests and the reliable force was a huge part of the "Doomsday Defense."
In 14 seasons, Jordan was named to five Pro Bowls. He totaled 32 interceptions, recovered 16 opponent's fumbles and was credited with 19.5 sacks. He added four interceptions in the playoffs and earned a Super Bowl ring (VI) in 1971.
Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Tom Landry, the franchise's head coach during its first 29 seasons of existence, had this to say about the 14-year pro. "He was a great competitor. He was not big for a middle linebacker, but because of his competitiveness, he was able to play the game and play it well. His leadership was there and he demanded a lot out of the people around him as he did of himself."
2. T Erik Williams
How many times has there been a discussion regarding two of the premier running backs of the 1990s? There has been plenty said about the greatness of Dallas' Emmitt Smith and Detroit's Barry Sanders. One of the most common points is what would Sanders have done behind those great Cowboys' offensive fronts?
Of course, no one will ever know. Those Dallas fronts were formidable indeed. Opposing defenses got to see a lot of tackles of star blockers such as John Gesek, Derek Kennard, Kevin Gogan, Mark Stepnoski, Ray Donaldson, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen.
There were three players who started in the same spot for all three of the team's Super Bowl contests in the 1990s. On the left side was tackle Mark Tuinei and guard Nate Newton. The right tackle spot was manned by Erik Williams.
A third-round pick in 1991 from Central State (Ohio), the 6-foot-6, 324-pound performer spent 10 seasons with the franchise and was a force up front. The three-time Super Bowl champion was a four-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro honors in 1993 and '96. He concluded his NFL by playing in five games with the Ravens in 2001.
Williams would become just the third primary Cowboys' offensive lineman to be enshrined in Canton, joining Allen and sturdy tackle Rayfield Wright.
1. S Darren Woodson
After excelling as a sideline leader of the Miami Hurricanes, Jimmy Johnson was hired by new Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to be his first head coach after he purchased the franchise in 1989. It didn't take Johnson long to figure out how the NFL works when it came to acquiring talent.
He became one of the best ever when it came to the draft process. Some would even say that the Pro Football Hall of Fame sideline leader may have been an even better evaluator of talent than he was a coach and that's certainly saying something for a man who led Dallas to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1992 (XXVII) and 1993 (XXVIII).
One of his great selections was in the second round of the 1992 draft when he opted for Arizona State defender Darren Woodson. The physical performer was a tone setter of those defensive units. In 12 seasons with the franchise, the three-time Super Bowl champion amassed 100-plus tackles nine times. He totaled 23 interceptions, two of those thefts returned for scores and scooped up 11 fumbles. He also amassed 11.0 sacks and forced a dozen fumbles.
From 1994-98, Woodson was named to five straight Pro Bowls and in those first three years earned All-Pro accolades as well. He was a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in 2023.
