Past/Present: Walls Among 2024 HOF Semifinalists

[CCBoy]

The NFL announced 60 Hall of Fame semifinalists for the Senior and Coach/Contributor categories with four former Cowboys among the nominees including Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, Dan Reeves, Everson Walls and John Wooten.

Dan Reeves, a former safety and running back for the Cowboys from 1965-1972, began his coaching career with Dallas as a player/coach in 1972 before transitioning full-time to coaching from 1974-1980. Frank "Bucko" Kilroy served as a scout for the Cowboys from 1965-1970 and is regarded as an instrumental voice for the franchise drafting Roger Staubach. John Wooten worked as a scout for the Cowboys from 1975-1979 before being promoted to Director of Pro Scouting, a position he held with the franchise until 1991.

Everson Walls signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1981 and played cornerback for the franchise for nine seasons. Walls led the NFL in interceptions in three of those seasons while also earning three First-Team All-Pro honors. Walls and Ed Reed are the only two players in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in three separate seasons.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/past-present-walls-among-2024-hof-semifinalists

 

[ChuckA1]

Walls was outstanding. I hope he makes it

 

[jazzcat22]

He certainly deserves to be in the HOF. Along with Woodson.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Walls doesn't make it, we will just add his name to the list of former Cowboy greats who continue to get snubbed.

It's disgraceful.

 

[Captain43Crash]

Everson Walls was a flat out play maker!!! He definitely should be in the Hall of Fame. He also won a Superbowl with the Giants.

Of course he got beat a time or two, but he made WAY more big plays than mistakes. He baited QB’s into bad throws all the time. Diggs reminds me of Everson, but he needs to clean up his game just a bit.

In the dreaded catch game, Everson played a hell of a game. He had 2 interceptions of the original goat, Joe Montana( I hate the Whiners but Montana was the best in his day. Whiners were so stupid to go with Steve Young over him).

 

[KJJ]

If Walls doesn't make it, we will just add his name to the list of former Cowboy greats who continue to get snubbed.

It's disgraceful.

He had a lot of INTs but he also got beat a lot. Unfortunately he’ll be best remembered for getting beat on The Catch. It was one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. That play has hurt his chances of reaching the Hall of Fame. He admitted in an interview that he thought Montana overthrew the pass and he hesitated.

 

[KJJ]

In the dreaded catch game, Everson played a hell of a game. He had 2 interceptions of the original goat, Joe Montana( I hate the Whiners but Montana was the best in his day. Whiners were so stupid to go with Steve Young over him).

He picked off Montana a couple of times but unfortunately with the game on the line he got beat on The Catch. He thought the ball was overthrown, and he hesitated. Those were his words. He’ll be best remembered for that play. Ken Riley had 64 INT‘s and recently got in the Hall of Fame so that gives Walls a chance. However, I don’t think he’ll get in. He got beat too much.

 

[mldardy]

He had a lot of INTs but he also got beat a lot. Unfortunately he’ll be best remembered for getting beat on The Catch. It was one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. That play has hurt his chances of reaching the Hall of Fame. He admitted in an interview that he thought Montana overthrew the pass and he hesitated.

If one play destroys someone's HOF chances Jackie Smith wouldn't be in it. One play doesn't define a career. Especially one where a number of players were at fault. It wasn't all on Walls.

 

[KJJ]

If one play destroys someone's HOF chances Jackie Smith wouldn't be in it. One play doesn't define a career. Especially one where a number of players were at fault. It wasn't all on Walls.

I knew someone would bring up Jackie Smith. He already had a Hall of Fame career prior to that play. He had retired and Tom Landry talked him out of retirement. One game/guarantee put Joe Namath in the Hall of Fame. The Catch certainly didn’t help Walls’ career. It was mostly on him, and he pretty much admitted it in an interview. He said he got fooled and hesitated. It’s one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, along with the Immaculate Reception, the Hail Mary and the Tyree helmet catch in the Super Bowl. Although he had 57 INT’s he only had one pick-six and his return yardage wasn’t very good because he lacked speed. He’s not even in the Cowboys ROH. He was a very good player, but I don’t think he’ll get into the Hall of Fame.

 

[gtb1943]

Everson Walls was a flat out play maker!!! He definitely should be in the Hall of Fame. He also won a Superbowl with the Giants.

Of course he got beat a time or two, but he made WAY more big plays than mistakes. He baited QB’s into bad throws all the time. Diggs reminds me of Everson, but he needs to clean up his game just a bit.

In the dreaded catch game, Everson played a hell of a game. He had 2 interceptions of the original goat, Joe Montana( I hate the Whiners but Montana was the best in his day. Whiners were so stupid to go with Steve Young over him).

Everson had no trouble tackling guys bigger than he was.

 

[gtb1943]

I knew someone would bring up Jackie Smith. He already had a Hall of Fame career prior to that play. He had retired and Tom Landry talked him out of retirement. One game/guarantee put Joe Namath in the Hall of Fame. The Catch certainly didn’t help Walls’ career. It was mostly on him, and he pretty much admitted it in an interview. He said he got fooled and hesitated. It’s one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, along with the Immaculate Reception, the Hail Mary and the Tyree helmet catch in the Super Bowl. Although he had 57 INT’s he only had one pick-six and his return yardage wasn’t very good because he lacked speed. He’s not even in the Cowboys ROH. He was a very good player, but I don’t think he’ll get into the Hall of Fame.

I counter that with all the players not as good at what he did who are in the Hall.
When you are one of only three people in the history of the league to do something, that is a pretty strong qualifier.

 

[KJJ]

I counter that with all the players not as good at what he did who are in the Hall.
When you are one of only three people in the history of the league to do something, that is a pretty strong qualifier.

It’s your opinion that there are players not as good at what he did that are in the Hall of Fame. What did Walls do that puts him as one of only three people in NFL history to do? He was 17th on the all-time list in INT’s. Ken Riley waited years to get into the Hall of Fame and just got in recently and he’s 5th all time in INT’s. I thought Walls was a real good player, but he got beat a lot. I just don’t think the INT’s are going to be enough to get him in the Hall of Fame. Diggs has gotten a lot of INT’s with a couple of pick-sixes, but most fans don’t want to pay him. They knock him because he’s gotten burned a lot and he won’t tackle. Walls got burned a lot too, and he wasn’t a great tackler. However, he didn’t shy away from tackles like Diggs.

 

[mldardy]

I knew someone would bring up Jackie Smith. He already had a Hall of Fame career prior to that play. He had retired and Tom Landry talked him out of retirement. One game/guarantee put Joe Namath in the Hall of Fame. The Catch certainly didn’t help Walls’ career. It was mostly on him, and he pretty much admitted it in an interview. He said he got fooled and hesitated. It’s one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, along with the Immaculate Reception, the Hail Mary and the Tyree helmet catch in the Super Bowl. Although he had 57 INT’s he only had one pick-six and his return yardage wasn’t very good because he lacked speed. He’s not even in the Cowboys ROH. He was a very good player, but I don’t think he’ll get into the Hall of Fame.

Well if you knew you shouldn't have posted what you did. The fact is Smith was NOT in the Hall before that play and no not everyone knew he was a HOFer. There are no guarantees wit the HOF or else it wouldn't have taken him 16 years to get in. Walls had a HOF career before and after that play. Again ONE PLAY DOESN'T DEFINE A CAREER. I know this is hard for you to understand. Now move one.

 

[Hagman]

I won't be upset if Walls doesn't' get into the Hall, but how in the world have they not put in Dan Reeves so far?
He was twice Coach of the Year, has over 200 wins as a head coach, and as a head coach took teams to the Super Bowl FOUR times.
Not to mention his accomplishments as a player and as an assistant coach--with much of that service with the Cowboys.

 

[KJJ]

Well if you knew you shouldn't have posted what you did. The fact is Smith was NOT in the Hall before that play and no not everyone knew he was a HOFer. There are no guarantees wit the HOF or else it wouldn't have taken him 16 years to get in. Walls had a HOF career before and after that play. Again ONE PLAY DOESN'T DEFINE A CAREER. I know this is hard for you to understand. Now move one.

Most felt Smith had a Hall of Fame career and he played played 16 years. He was washed up by his final season with the Cowboys and that drop in the Super Bowl probably kept him from getting in the Hall of Fame sooner. It certainly scarred his career. He had over 1200 receiving yards in 1967 with 9 TDs. Not even Jason Witten ever had a season like that and he played in a pass happy offense with his BFF Tony Romo. That season by Smith currently ranks 13th on the all-time list. I never once said one play defines a career, but one play can certainly make a career for some players. Dwight Clark would’ve never been remembered if it wasn’t for The Catch. No one would’ve ever heard of David Tyree if it wasn’t for the helmet catch in the Super Bowl. Drew Pearson might not have ever gotten into the Hall of Fame had it not been for the Hail Mary. One great play or one bad play can have an affect on a players career.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Everson Walls was a flat out play maker!!! He definitely should be in the Hall of Fame. He also won a Superbowl with the Giants.

Of course he got beat a time or two, but he made WAY more big plays than mistakes. He baited QB’s into bad throws all the time. Diggs reminds me of Everson, but he needs to clean up his game just a bit.

In the dreaded catch game, Everson played a hell of a game. He had 2 interceptions of the original goat, Joe Montana( I hate the Whiners but Montana was the best in his day. Whiners were so stupid to go with Steve Young over him).

Steve was good to though.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Walls does belong in the HOF.....which has turned into the HOVG....that is why you see many old time players that have been left out. It was more difficult to get in thirty, forty or even fifty years ago. Only the best of the best got in. Now the very good are given a chance too. So based on that Walls would qualify. And EVERYONE gets beat,, heck even Deion, Darrell Green, Blount, CWoodson, Revis, ....all were never invincible. Had warts too. It's not the bad plays that keep you out, it's the good plays that get you in. That's what the voters remember.

 

[gtb1943]

It’s your opinion that there are players not as good at what he did that are in the Hall of Fame. What did Walls do that puts him as one of only three people in NFL history to do? He was 17th on the all-time list in INT’s. Ken Riley waited years to get into the Hall of Fame and just got in recently and he’s 5th all time in INT’s. I thought Walls was a real good player, but he got beat a lot. I just don’t think the INT’s are going to be enough to get him in the Hall of Fame. Diggs has gotten a lot of INT’s with a couple of pick-sixes, but most fans don’t want to pay him. They knock him because he’s gotten burned a lot and he won’t tackle. Walls got burned a lot too, and he wasn’t a great tackler. However, he didn’t shy away from tackles like Diggs.

Walls and Ed Reed are the only two players in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in three separate seasons.


I was wrong it was only two

BUT you CLEARLY did not bother to read the OP since that is where I took that clip from

Now how dumb do you feel?

 

[KJJ]

Walls and Ed Reed are the only two players in NFL history to lead the league in interceptions in three separate seasons.


I was wrong it was only two

BUT you CLEARLY did not bother to read the OP since that is where I took that clip from

Now how dumb do you feel?

I skimmed over the OP. Ed Reed was a far greater player than Everson Walls. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer for a reason. Reed had a lot of game changing INT’s. He’s seventh all time in INTs.

 

[OmerV]

I wonder how many here know that on top of being a RB Dan Reeves was also the 3rd team QB in Dallas, or that he was actually a player/coach for the Cowboys at one point?