DALLAS — No state has more native-born players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than the state of Texas. Zach Thomas’ recent election will add to the number of Texans enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
Looking at the birthplaces of all NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL players over time, across all 50 states, Betway analyzed the data to see which states have produced the most athletes in the four major professional sports. From that data, we look at all of the native Texans who’ve been inducted into the Hall of Fame in their respective sports.
Seven athletes from the Dallas-Fort Worth area have been inducted into their pro sports’ Hall of Fame:
Football
In pro football, Texas (2,628) holds a slight edge over California (2,607) for the most players to ever suit up in a game. And when it comes to excellence, Texas leads the nation for the most members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. More than 10% of the Hall of Fame’s 355 inductees hail from Texas.
How does football compare with other sports?
Hockey
By contrast, only one Texas-born player is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. That shouldn’t be surprising since the majority of NHL players are Canadian-born. Fewer than 1-in-5 players in the history of the league were born in the United States. Texas is the only southern state to have produced an NHL Hall of Fame player.
— Brian Leetch, born in Corpus Christi, is the only native-born Texan in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He played 18 NHL seasons and has been called one of the top defensemen in league history. His number 2 was retired by the New York Rangers in 2008 and he was inducted into the HOF in his first year of eligibility in 2009.
Basketball
New York takes the top spot for basketball Hall of Fame members with 25 players. Texas is tied for seventh place, with six Hall of Famers born in the state.
Native Texans in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
— Bill Sharman was born in Abilene. He was the first U.S. sports figure to win a championship as a player, coach, and executive, winning titles as a player with the Celtics, as the Lakers head coach, and as a Lakers executive. Sharman was inducted into the HOF in 1976 as a player and in 2004 as a coach.
— Slater Martin, born in Elmina, was a five-time NBA champion and was named to seven All-Star teams. In 1982, he became the only Texas Longhorn to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
— K.C. Jones was born in Taylor. He is one of only eight players in basketball history to have won an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. As a coach, he guided the Celtics to championships in 1984 and 1986. Jones was inducted into the HOF in 1989.
— Zelmo Beaty was born in Hillister, a small Texas town of 250. He played eight seasons in the NBA and four in the rival ABA. A two-time NBA All-Star and a three-time ABA All-Star, Beaty was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
— Grant Hill, the son of former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, was born in Dallas. He won two NCAA championships at Duke and was named to seven NBA All-Star teams. Hill also won three NBA Sportsmanship Awards. He was inducted to the HOF in 2014.
— Chris Bosh was born in Dallas. He was named Texas Mr. Basketball in high school, playing at Lincoln. He played one season of college basketball before declaring for the NBA draft. Bosh was a two-time NBA champion and an 11-time NBA All-Star. He was inducted into the HOF in 2021.
Baseball
As with basketball, New York takes the top spot for the number of baseball Hall of Fame members. California and Pennsylvania again make up the top three, as is the case in basketball. Texas ranks sixth, with 15 members inducted in Cooperstown.
Of the fifteen Texans enshrined, seven players either began or played their entire careers in the Negro Leagues.
Native Texans in the National Baseball Hall of Fame
— Tris Speaker was born in Hubbard. He compiled a career batting average that’s sixth best all-time and his 3,514 hits are fifth on the all-time list. In 1939, Speaker was honored at the hall’s first induction ceremony.
— Rogers Hornsby was born in Winters and raised in Fort Worth. He played in 23 MLB seasons and was named the NL MVP twice. His career batting average is third-best in MLB history. He was inducted into the HOF in 1942.
— Ross Youngs was born in Shiner. He played right field for the Giants teams that won four consecutive NL pennants and two World Series. He batted over .300 nine times in his career, but his career was cut short as he died at the age of 30 of Bright’s disease. Youngs was elected to the HOF in 1972.
— Ernie Banks, born in Dallas, was nicknamed “Mr. Cub.” Banks graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1950. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Banks was named an NL All-Star 11 times and the NL MVP twice. He was inducted into the HOF in 1977.
— Eddie Mathews was born in Texarkana. He played 17 MLB seasons and made nine All-Star appearances. He won the NL home run title in 1953 and 1959 and hit 512 career home runs. After his playing career he was a scout and coach for four teams, including the Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the HOF in 1978.
— Frank Robinson, from Beaumont, had a stellar career that included 14 All-Star selections, an AL MVP and a Triple Crown in 1961. In 1975, Robinson became the first Black manager in MLB history. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982.
— Joe Morgan was born in Bonham. The second baseman played in 23 seasons, winning two World Series with the Reds. Morgan was named the NL MVP in both of those years. The Reds dedicated a statue for Morgan in 2013 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.
— Bill Foster was born in Calvert. He had the same father as Rube Foster, who was a key figure in the founding of the Negro National League. Manager Dave Malarcher said, “Bill Foster was my star pitcher, the greatest pitcher of our time, not even barring Satchel Paige.” He was inducted into the HOF in 1996.
— ‘Smokey’ Joe Williams, a native of Seguin, was the star pitcher in the early days of the Negro leagues. Satchel Paige called Williams the best pitcher he had ever seen. He was voted the top pitcher in Negro league history in a 1952 Pittsburgh Courier poll and was inducted into the HOF in 1999.
— Nolan Ryan, born in Refugio, had a playing career that lasted 27 years and spanned four decades. His 5,714 career strikeouts are a MLB record and 839 more than the runner-up. Ryan is the all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He was inducted into the HOF in 1999.
— Hilton Smith, born in Giddings, began his career in black baseball’s equivalent of the minor leagues in Austin with the Austin Black Senators. Smith was a strong voice for Negro leaguers in their struggle to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall in 2001.
— Louis Santop, born in Tyler, was a catcher in the Negro leagues. He has been called “black baseball’s first legitimate home-run slugger.” After his playing career ended, he formed his own semi-pro team, the Santop Bronchos, which played from 1928-32. Santop was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
— Andy Cooper was born in Waco. An alumnus of Paul Quinn College in Waco (the school moved to Dallas in 1990), Cooper is the Negro league record holder for career saves. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
— Biz Mackey was born in Eagle Pass. A catcher and manager, he ranks among the Negro leagues all-time leaders in total bases, runs batted in and slugging percentage. His record as a manager is 186-143-9. Mackey was elected to the HOF in 2006.
— Greg Maddux, a native of San Angelo, was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award four consecutive years and the only pitcher in history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons. Maddux also holds the record for most Gold Gloves by any player with 18. He was inducted into the HOF in 2014.
Football
In Texas, football is king. There are more native Texans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than in the three other major U.S. sports combined.
Native Texans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
— Sammy Baugh, born in Temple, was versatile — he played quarterback, safety and punter. Baugh attended college at TCU where he was a two-time All-American. He played in the NFL for 16 seasons and was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted in the HOF’s charter class of 1963.
— Bulldog Turner was born in Plains. He played 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, as a center on offense and linebacker on defense. He was named first-team All-Pro eight times and was part of four teams to win an NFL championship. Turner was inducted to the HOF in 1966.
— Bobby Layne was born in Santa Anna, and attended high school at Highland Park. After playing at the University of Texas, he played fifteen seasons in the NFL with four teams. He was a three-time NFL champion and his number 22 has been retired by the Longhorns and the Detroit Lions. Layne was inducted into the HOF in 1967.
— Y. A. Tittle, born in Marshall, played 17 pro seasons. At the time of his retirement he was the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions and games played. Tittle was inducted into the HOF in 1971 and his number 14 is retired by the NY Giants.
— Ollie Matson was born in Trinity, Texas. He won two Olympic medals as a sprinter and was a running back in the NFL from 1952 to 1966, missing the entire 1953 season while serving in the Army. Matson was named a first-team All-Pro seven times during his career and was elected to the HOF in 1972.
— Raymond Berry, born in Corpus Christi, played in college at SMU. He led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards three times and was invited to six Pro Bowls. Berry was also the head coach of the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989, leading the team to an appearance in Super Bowl XX. He was inducted into the HOF in 1973.
— Dick (Night Train) Lane was born in Austin. Before playing in the NFL, he served for four years in the Army. As a rookie in 1952, Lane had 14 interceptions, a mark that still remains an NFL record. He was selected as a first-team All-Pro player seven times. He was inducted into the HOF in 1973.
— Forrest Gregg was born in the unincorporated community of Birthright. He’s one of only four players (including Tom Brady) to play on six NFL title teams. After his playing career, Gregg was the head coach at SMU, his alma mater. He was inducted into the HOF in 1977.
— Lance Alworth, born in Houston, played for the San Diego Chargers of the AFL and NFL, and for the Dallas Cowboys. Considered by many as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, Alworth was elected to the HOF in 1978, becoming the first player inducted whose career was principally in the AFL.
— Yale Lary, born in Fort Worth, was one of Texas A&M’s greatest NFL alums. He played 11 NFL seasons as a safety, punter and return specialist. He missed two seasons due to military service in Korea but appeared in nine Pro Bowl games, led the league in punting three times and had 50 career interceptions. Lary was inducted into the HOF in 1979.
— Bob Lilly, nicknamed “Mr. Cowboy”, was born in Olney. After playing in college at TCU, he played 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and, in 1975, was the first player enshrined into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. He was inducted into the HOF in 1980.
— Charley Taylor was born in Grand Prairie. A multi-sport athlete at Dalworth High School (now Grand Prairie High School), Taylor went on to play wide receiver for 13 seasons in the NFL, being selected to the Pro Bowl eight times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.
— Doak Walker was born in Dallas. He played college football at SMU, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1948. Walker then played in the NFL for six seasons. The Doak Walker Award — awarded annually to the top running back in college football — is named after him. He was inducted into the HOF in 1986.
— Ken Houston was born in Lufkin. He played for the AFL’s Houston Oilers from 1967-69, and after the AFL–NFL merger, with the Oilers from 1970-72, then with Washington until 1980. A member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, he was inducted into the HOF in 1986.
— Don Maynard was born in Crosbyton, a town in the Lubbock area. Nicknamed ‘Country,’ Maynard was part of the NY Jets team that won Super Bowl III. He’s a member of the AFL All-Time Team, and the Jets have retired his No. 13. He was inducted into the HOF in 1987.
— Gene Upshaw was born in Robstown. An offensive lineman who won two Super Bowls, he was named to six Pro Bowls and is on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. After his playing career, Upshaw served as executive director of the NFL Players’ Association. He was inducted into the HOF in 1987.
— ‘Mean’ Joe Greene was born in Temple. Greene attended North Texas State University (now UNT), playing for the Mean Green football team. He was the foundation of the Steelers ‘Steel Curtain’ defense that led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships in a six-year span. Greene was inducted into the HOF in 1987.
— Tom Landry, born in Mission, played seven seasons in the NFL before becoming the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. His 29 consecutive years as the coach of one team is an NFL record, along with his record 20 consecutive winning seasons. Landry won two Super Bowl titles, five NFC titles, and 13 divisional titles with the Cowboys. He was inducted into the HOF in 1990.
— Earl Campbell is nicknamed “the Tyler Rose”, after the city of his birth. Campbell won the Heisman Trophy playing for the Texas Longhorns. Regarded as one of the best power running backs in history, he won the NFL MVP in 1979 and is a three-time winner of the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was inducted into the HOF in 1991.
— Mel Renfro was born in Houston. He spent his entire 14-year NFL career playing safety and cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons. He was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams in Dallas and joined the team’s Ring of Honor in 1981. Renfro was elected to the HOF in 1996.
— Mike Haynes, born in Denison, was one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks. After being voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Haynes would go on to be a nine-time Pro Bowler. He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted into the HOF in 1997.
— Mike Singletary was born in Houston. After being named an All-American in his junior and senior years at Baylor, he became the heart of the Chicago Bears’ “Monsters of the Midway” defense. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Pro, Singletary was inducted into the HOF in 1998.
— Eric Dickerson, born in Sealy, played college football for SMU, where he was an All-American. He holds the NFL’s single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time, Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
— Thurman Thomas was born in Houston. He was named the NFL MVP in 1991 and was selected to five straight Pro Bowls. Thomas helped his team make a record four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1991 to 1994. He was inducted into the HOF in 2007.
— Emmitt Thomas, born in Angleton, owns the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time interception record and was part of three Super Bowl winning teams. After his playing career, he coached over three decades for six different NFL teams. Thomas was inducted into the HOF in 2008.
— Darrell Green, a native of Houston, played for the rival Washington Redskins, now the Commanders. A football and track star in college, he was a 7-time NFL Pro Bowler and named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with an interception, at 19. He was inducted into the HOF in 2008.
— John Randle was born in Mumford. He played college football at Texas A&I, went undrafted, and is considered one of the best undrafted players of all time. His 137.5 sacks are the most for a defensive tackle in NFL history. Randle was inducted into the HOF in 2010.
— Michael Strahan, born in Houston, played his entire 15-year NFL career as a defensive end for the New York Giants. Strahan holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single season (tied with T.J. Watt). After retirement, he moved on to a successful career as a TV broadcaster. Strahan was inducted into the HOF in 2014.
— Tim Brown was born in Dallas and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. When he won the Heisman Trophy, it gave Woodrow the distinction of being the first high school in the country to have produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Davey O’Brien also attended Woodrow). A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Brown was inducted into the HOF in 2015.
— LaDainian Tomlinson was born in Rosebud, Texas. Playing college at TCU, he won the Doak Walker Award as the best college running back in his senior year. He holds the NFL single-season records for most rushing touchdowns, most touchdowns from scrimmage and most points scored. He was inducted into the HOF in 2017.
— Ed Sprinkle, born in Bradshaw, was known to many as “the meanest man in pro football” for his aggressive playing style. Coach George Halas said that Sprinkle was “the greatest pass-rusher I’ve ever seen.” Sprinkle was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
— Bobby Dillon was born in Pendleton. He was an All-American with the University of Texas Longhorns, and spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. He’s the all-time Packers career interceptions leader. He was inducted into the HOF in 2020.
— Winston Hill was born in Joaquin. A tennis champion in high school, Hill attended college at Texas Southern. As left tackle for the Jets, he spent his NFL career protecting Joe Namath’s blind side. He has the 10th-longest string of starts in pro football history and was inducted into the HOF in 2020.
— Jimmy Johnson, from Port Arthur, was a high school classmate of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Janis Joplin. He’s the first head football coach to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. With Dallas, he became one of only six men in NFL history to coach consecutive Super Bowl winners. He was inducted into the HOF in 2020.
— Cliff Branch, a native of Houston, played with the Raiders during his entire 14-year NFL career. In track, he set a record in the 100 meters at the 1972 NCAA championships. He won three Super Bowls with the Raiders. Branch was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
— Zach Thomas, born in Pampa, was named a unanimous All-American middle linebacker at Texas Tech. He played 13 seasons in the NFL (12 with the Miami Dolphins and his final season with the Dallas Cowboys). He was voted into the HOF in 2023.
