It’s that time of year again when the NFL unveils its annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern-Era nominees. On Wednesday, the league released the initial list for the Class of 2026, and an all-time Texas A&M great made the cut. Aggie Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen was among the 128 nominees and one of 14 linebackers selected for consideration for the ultimate enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.
The story of how his family arrived in America is one of danger and perseverance. For Nguyen to even be in a position to attend college is nothing short of miraculous, and to become one of the best linebackers in Texas A&M history wasn’t even a thought. However, he found a love for football, and it blossomed into something special.
After a stellar college career at A&M, where he earned unanimous All-American honors, Nguyen was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (1998), won the Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi Awards, and took home the Jack Lambert Trophy. That was just the tip of the iceberg on his path to being selected in the third round by the Dallas Cowboys.
He was named to the All-Rookie Team and led the Cowboys in tackles three times during his seven-year career. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, and after nearly a decade of NFL punishment, he chose to retire, as injuries no longer allowed him to perform at the top of his game.
There’s no doubt that Dat Nguyen was one of the greatest college linebackers in NCAA history, and that legacy was solidified in 2017 when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. However, when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the case is more challenging to make.
While he was a standout player for America’s Team, he only played four complete seasons, missing 28 games. Had he remained healthy throughout his career, there’s a strong chance he would have surpassed 700 tackles, recorded double-digit sacks, and logged double-digit interceptions. With those numbers, his candidacy would be significantly stronger.
The fan in me wants to see him in the Hall of Fame, but objectively, it’s a steep hill to climb. I never say never, and if there’s one thing we know about Dat Nguyen, it’s that he was built to defy the odds.
NFL Career Stats:
- Tackles – 515
- Sacks – 6
- Interceptions – 7
- Passes defended – 27
- Forced Fumbles – 4
- All- Rookie team (1999), Second-Team All-Pro (2003)
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Texas A&M, Dallas Cowboys LB Dat Nguyen nominated for NFL HOF
