Locked On Cowboys - “SNUB: Dallas Cowboys Legends Darren Woodson and Jason Witten IGNORED by NFL Hall of Fame!”
Hosted by Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
February 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this passionate edition of Locked On Cowboys, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool react to the stinging disappointment of Cowboys legends Darren Woodson and Jason Witten being passed over by the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet again. The hosts dig into the deep flaws in the Hall of Fame selection process, reflect on the deserving legacies of Woodson and Witten, discuss broader patterns of media bias and voting failures, and touch on recent NFL honors—including Dak Prescott’s Comeback Player of the Year snub. The episode wraps up with a discussion about Super Bowl 60 and lessons the Cowboys can learn from the contenders.

The Darren Woodson Hall of Fame Snub (02:00 – 09:00)

The Frustration with the Hall of Fame Process

• Landon: The main reason for Woodson’s snub is a “terrible process” at the Hall:

  “The Hall of Fame process is awful. It’s a flawed process that doesn’t give guys like Woodson their chance.” (02:36)

• Points out Roger Craig’s entry over Bill Belichick as a prime example of inconsistency and confusion in the current process.
• Warns of the “backlog” issue: once a player is passed over a couple of times, their candidacy fades behind newer, flashier names.

Why Woodson Should Be in the Hall

• Landon makes the case:
  • Woodson changed the game as a versatile safety, playing slot, man, box, even special teams.
  • He’s the all-time leading tackler for the Cowboys—one of the league’s most storied franchises.
  • Outshined peers of his era (“he’s way better than [other Hall safeties]”).

  “None of [the other Hall of Fame safeties] are as versatile as Woody. He was a total freak of nature.” (04:49)

• Marcus: Many voters don’t understand nuanced roles like Woodson’s because they focus only on basic stats (tackles, INTs):

  “When you get a beat reporter from Indianapolis that goes to Pro Football Reference and looks at his stat page, they’re not blown away… because they didn’t actually watch or they don’t remember how good of a player he actually was.” (06:34)

Problems with the Voting Body

• Too many non-football “at large” voters and old-school reporters disconnected from the modern game.
• Woodson’s value gets lost among voters who didn’t watch him or understand his role.
• Marcus adds: “There’s also a little bit of a Cowboy bias. An anti-Cowboy bias.” (08:44)
• Voters are dismissive: “Was this guy just the safety? No, we’re not letting him in.” (08:54)
• Voting group is out of touch and, at times, feeble:

  “It’s a really old group of voters… it’s a process that’s very flawed with a lot of people in there that I don’t think maybe take it as seriously as they should.” (09:33)

Jason Witten’s First-Ballot Snub (13:27 – 18:23)

Surprised, But Not Shocked

• Marcus: Many expected Witten—nicknamed “Gold Jacket Wit”—to be a Hall of Fame lock on his first ballot.
• Landon: While deserving, Witten joins a crowded backlog at tight end with position “exhaustion” due to an era flush with great TEs (Gonzalez, Gronkowski, Kelsey soon, etc.).
• The process’ lack of recency hurts Witten, especially after the less stellar finish to his career.

Did Playing Too Long Hurt His Case?

• Marcus: Wonders if Witten returning to play in 2019 and then with the Raiders changed the perception:

  “If he doesn’t play that final season in Dallas in 2019, after retiring in 2018… if he didn’t play that season with the Raiders, I do wonder if people look at him differently, and that’s not really fair.” (15:20)

• Voters focus more on lasting impressions than career peaks.

Career Value and Playoff Weakness

• Landon: “A guy that played as elite as he did for as long as he did… is deserving.” (15:55)
• Marcus: Noted that lack of postseason success may have mattered: “Witten never made it to an NFC Championship game and only played a few playoff games.” (16:46)

Worry About Witten Becoming ‘the Next Woodson’

• The hosts fear Witten could become another perennial snub—an all-timer repeatedly overlooked due to timing, process, and shifting standards.

Voting Process Flaws and Cowboy Bias (Entire Episode)

• Issues:
  • Process is “politicized” (07:15)
  • Too old, too out of touch, not “football” enough (09:49)
  • Anti-Cowboys sentiment (“Isn’t every 90s Cowboy already in?” attitude among voters)
  • Emphasis on old stats and big-market voters unfamiliar with Dallas’ real stars

Quick Hits: NFL Honors & Dak Prescott (18:33 – 20:58)

Dak Prescott – Comeback Player of the Year

• Finished third; Christian McCaffrey won.
• Marcus: Thought Dak had the best year of his career and “a really strong case” for the award. (18:51)
• Landon: Joked the age of voters likely played a role—pointing out how Philip Rivers (!) even got a vote:

  “That’s an age bias thing… because all the old voters are like, 'I know what it’s like to be 45, and I couldn’t imagine coming off the couch.'” (20:08)

• Marcus: Highlights Dak’s performance as a new dad, half-jokingly:

  “He had this season after having a newborn… what are you actually coming back from?” (20:29)

Super Bowl 60 Preview & Lessons for Cowboys (23:51 – 28:07)

Who Are the Hosts Rooting For?

• Both rooting for Seattle and specifically for former Cowboy Tank Lawrence.
  • Landon: “Tank is a guy to me that I’ve always been a huge fan of. I hope the Seahawks win so that he gets a chance… I just think the Seahawks are the better team.” (23:52)
• Marcus: Agrees, saying the Seahawks play differently and aggressively, with an appealing style.
• Noted that Seattle’s use of versatile defenders (like safeties who can play slot and box) could be a model for Dallas.

What To Watch For

• Landon: Seattle’s defensive line vs. New England’s O-line is the “number one mismatch.”

• Marcus: Urges Cowboys fans to pay attention to tackling:

  “Watch the tackling by both sides… Seattle’s got every guy in their secondary is going to tackle. Every linebacker is going to fly to the ball and wrap up. Same for New England.” (27:08)

  • This, he argues, is a major difference between those teams and the Cowboys’ struggles last year.

• Memorable Stat (Landon):

  “Sonny Styles missed zero tackles during the regular season… only one all year.” (27:52)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Landon: "The Hall of Fame process is awful… they need to kind of tear the whole process up from the floorboards and start over." (02:35-04:05)
• Marcus: "When you get a beat reporter from Indianapolis that goes to Pro Football Reference and looks at his stat page, they’re not blown away… because they didn’t actually watch or they don’t remember how good of a player he actually was." (06:34)
• Landon: "A kicker… he’s in the Hall of Fame now… it’s a flawed process that needs to be kind of redone." (08:00)
• Marcus: “There’s also a little bit of a Cowboy bias. An anti-cowboy bias.” (08:44)
• Landon: "When, while you’re still playing, you’ve earned the nickname Gold Jacket Wit, I think there are, it comes with a certain level of expectation." (13:27)
• Marcus: "...if he didn’t play that season with the Raiders, I do wonder if people look at him differently, and that’s not really fair." (15:20)
• Marcus: "Watch the tackling by both sides… Seattle’s got every guy in their secondary is going to tackle." (27:08)

Summary Takeaway:
This episode is an impassioned defense of two Cowboys icons—Darren Woodson and Jason Witten—whose legacies continue to be undervalued by an outdated, flawed, and at times biased Hall of Fame selection process. The hosts advocate for reform, bemoan the lack of football acumen among voters, and warn these trends threaten to keep future Dallas legends on the sidelines of Canton. The episode combines frustration, expertise, and hope that both players—and the process itself—will someday get the recognition they deserve.