Darren Woodson | Speaking Engagements - Darren Woodson

Building a culture of excellence

“Life is too short just to be average—especially as a team. If you want to supersede your competitors, you better have a competitive culture.” – Darren Woodson

Football Career

The Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler with 1,350 career stops, Darren Woodson is one of the greatest safeties of his era, earning five Pro Bowl selections. A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 1992, Woodson won two Super Bowl rings in his first two seasons, and three in a four-year span. Playing for 12 seasons, Woodson is the only player in Cowboys history to play for five different head coaches, beginning with Jimmy Johnson and ending with Bill Parcells. He enters the Ring of Honor as the 21st member and 19th player, becoming just the second true safety in the Ring of Honor along with Cliff Harris.

Biography

A three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowl selection, he is the Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler.

Woodson was a star athlete at Maryvale High School in Phoenix before playing linebacker at Arizona State University. The Cowboys drafted him in 1992, and over his 12-season career (1992-2004), he became one of the NFL’s most feared safeties. His career totals include 1,350 tackles, 11 sacks, and 23 interceptions. For his contributions to the franchise, he was inducted into the prestigious Cowboys “Ring of Honor” in 2015, as well as the Arizona Sports and Texas Sports Halls of Fame.

After retiring in 2004, Woodson transitioned to a successful career as an NFL analyst for ESPN, where he worked for 14 years before retiring in 2019. He then moved into the business world, joining the commercial real estate firm ESRP Advisory Dallas, which later merged with Cresa. As a Managing Principal at Cresa, Woodson uses his leadership skills to build client relationships and shape the firm’s strategy from its Dallas office at The Star.

Beyond his professional achievements, Woodson is an active philanthropist. He serves on the board of the C5 Youth Foundation of Texas, which mentors and provides leadership opportunities for underprivileged youth. He is married to Tiffany and has four children.