The Dallas Cowboys got a bittersweet announcement on Wednesday, as the Centennial Slate Class of 2020 was announced for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Sunday, Cowboys Nation was elated to learn that head coach Jimmy Johnson was to become the 328th member of the Hall, when it was announced on live television during the NFC playoffs.
On Wednesday, another former Cowboys player was announced, but one just as deserving was once again passed over. Safety Cliff Harris, who played for the club from 1970 through 1979 is in, but wideout Drew Pearson, the original 88, was once again passed over. With Harris’ selection, Pearson becomes the only member of the 1970 All-NFL first team to not be a member of the Hall.
Here’s a full list of the Centennial Slate, who will be joined by the standard five-member inductees from the normal voting process and announced the day prior to the Super Bowl.
COACHES
- Bill Cowher – 1992-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jimmy Johnson – 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins
CONTRIBUTORS
*Deceased
- *Steve Sabol, Administrator/President – 1964-2012 NFL Films
- Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
- *George Young, Contributor/General Manager – 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
SENIORS
*Deceased
- Harold Carmichael, WR – 1971-1983 Philadelphia Eagles, 1984 Dallas Cowboys
- Jim Covert, T – 1983-1990 Chicago Bears
- *Bobby Dillon, S – 1952-59 Green Bay Packers
- Cliff Harris, S – 1970-79 Dallas Cowboys
- *Winston Hill, T – 1963-1976 New York Jets, 1977 Los Angeles Rams
- *Alex Karras, DT – 1958-1962, 1964-1970 Detroit Lions
- Donnie Shell, S – 1974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers
- *Duke Slater, T – 1922 Milwaukee Badgers, 1922-25 Rock Island Independents,1926-1931 Chicago Cardinals
- *Mac Speedie, E – 1946-1952 Cleveland Browns [AAFC/NFL]
- *Ed Sprinkle, DE/LB/E – 1944-1955 Chicago Bears
Harris, ranked No. 19 in our Top 100 all-time Cowboys list, was a starter in both of Dallas’ Super Bowl wins in the 1970s. He appeared in five championship games and made six Pro Bowls in his career that also included four first-team All-Pro nods. Captain Crash had 29 career interceptions, earning him a spot in the Cowboys Ring of Honor (2004) and a place on the 1970s All-Decade Team. He’s the only member of the first team not inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Pearson accumulated a Career AV of 99 over his 156 games. He’ll forever live in NFL lore as the receiving end of the first Hail Mary, and caught 489 passes across his 144 starts. Pearson averaged 16 yards per reception and hauled in 48 career touchdowns while making three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.
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