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Drew Pearson, a key offensive member of the Dallas Cowboys from 1973-83 admits he had his heart broken when he realized he was not going to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.

In January, Pearson gathered with family and friends to await a call that would notify him of his ticket to the Hall. That call never came.

Pearson’s emotional reaction to his Hall of Fame snub

When Drew Pearson’s name wasn’t called on Jan. 15, revealing a special centennial class of 10 players who played more than 25 years ago, two coaches, and three contributors, the former Dallas Cowboys receiver wore his emotions on his sleeve.


“They broke my heart. They broke my heart. And they did it like this! They strung it out like this.”

Drew Pearson

His frustrations seemed to stem from a variety of reasons. First, he is the lone member of the offense from the 1970’s all-decade team to not make the Hall of Fame. Second, there is nothing he can do statistically to help his chances, and third, he points out there was nothing negative about his career.

“Can’t do nothing about it,” Pearson said. “Can’t catch no more damn passes. Can’t run no more routes. It’s there. What upsets me more is when they say you don’t deserve it, they talk negative about you. There’s nothing negative about my career in the NFL. Nothing!”

Pearson went on to ask how many games the Cowboys would’ve won if they took him out of the equation. He said he knew of four they would’ve lost.

Pearson says he holds no grudge against the Hall of Fame

Pearson, who still can get in the Hall of Fame via the Senior Committee,  said he won’t be disrespectful to the Hall of Fame committee despite the snub and his obvious disappointment.

He said he didn’t want to pull a move like that of former Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrel Owens, who didn’t show up for his induction ceremony after three attempts of trying to get in. Instead, he held his own ceremony at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

“I’m not going to be no Terrell Owens and all that kind of stuff and disrespect the Hall,” he said. “If they call my name, I’m clearing my schedule I’ll be there. I ain’t that crazy. I have that passion to still want to be there.”

He has the credentials and the backing of former NFL players

Known as the Original 88 in a strong line of Dallas Cowboys receivers to wear that number, Pearson has the respect of some former NFL players who also believe he should be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

Former teammate and Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett tweeted that he was disappointed in the Hall of Fame’s decision, saying he deserves to be a Hall of Famer.

Dez Bryant, a former Dallas Cowboys receiver who also wore No. 88, echoes Dorsett’s sentiments with a tweet of his own, saying the Hall of Fame did Pearson wrong.

Pearson was clearly one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the 70s. He spent all 11 of his NFL seasons as a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys and was a key reason for the team’s three Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl title. Pearson was a three-time Pro Bowler who led the league in receiving in 1977.

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Mike Thomas

Mike Thomas spent 23 years on staff and 16 years as the sports editor at The Herald News in Fall River, Mass., before joining Sportscasting in 2020. Mike has a deep knowledge of and passion for the NFL and NBA, and he excels at interviewing sports celebrities to find out their Super Bowl picks.

A New England Newspaper and Press Association award-winning columnist and an avid sports memorabilia collector, Mike enjoys keeping up with all the sports news and the works of former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly. You can find more of Mike’s work on Muck Rack.