Darren Woodson Joins Ring of Honor

Cowboys all-time leading tackler Darren Woodson went into the Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday’s 13-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and, unsurprisingly, the longtime safety chose to focus on the teams he played on, and the franchise he played for, rather than his own highly decorated career.

Specifically, he recalled a speech Jimmy Johnson delivered to the team on the star at midfield of the old Texas Stadium before the beginning of the 1992 season, his rookie year.

"We were all on the star, and he was talking about the history of this organization and representing that star," Woodson said, per the Dallas Morning News. "I remember looking up and seeing those names--Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Lee Roy Jordan--so many great names that were associated with the star. I dreamt one day that hopefully I can get up there."

The Cowboys current head coach Jason Garrett, of course, knows Woodson well. The two were teammates in Dallas from 1993-1999, and won two Super Bowls in that time.

"He's a great example who didn't say a whole hell of a lot but his passion and enthusiasm for the game was overwhelming,” Garrett said. "Certainly one of the best players and probably the best safety of his generation in the National Football League."

Jerry Jones remembered Woodson as being a sort of prototypical Ring of Honor member.

"His passion, his character, his leadership was everything the Ring of Honor is supposed to be about," Jones said.