Andy Dalton, Dane Johnson headline 2026 Texas High School Football Hall of Fame class

The Texas High School Football Hall of Fame will expand by nine members next spring, honoring some of the state’s greatest players and coaches across the past six decades.

On Tuesday, the THSFHOF released its inductees for the 2026 class, which will be officially honored and inducted in Waco on May 9, 2026. The group includes five honorees spanning across the decades dating back to the 1960s, as well as two Contributors to the Game and a pair of Eddie Joseph/THSFHOF coaching nominees.

Among the headliners — and the youngest addition to the HOF — is former Katy star quarterback Andy Dalton, who went on to star at TCU and is in his 15th NFL season. As a high school, Dalton started only one full season at quarterback for Katy as a senior in 2005 after splitting reps as a junior in 2004. In his lone year leading the offense, Dalton threw for 2,877 yards with 42 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He committed to the Horned Frogs that fall and was a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010. TCU finished No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll after his senior season, their highest mark in more than 70 years.

When he left, Dalton had school career records for wins (42), passing yards (10,314), pass attempts (1,317), completions (812), and completion percentage (61.6).

The Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and after leading them to a 9-6 record, he was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He led the team to four consecutive 10-win seasons between 2012 and 2015, and was twice more named a Pro Bowler during his time there.

Since 2020, he has spent time on the roster of the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

Legendary Southlake Carroll RB Dane Johnson among other inductees

Dalton is joined by another legendary Texas high school football player: former Southlake Carroll star running back/defensive back Dane Johnson. Regarded as one of the school’s all-time greatest athletes, he won two state football titles and was named first-team All-State as a member of the Dragons’ 1992 and 1993 undefeated state championship teams.

Other inductees include:

• 1969 & Before: Dickey Morton — Justin F. Kimball High School, Dallas

• 1970s: Alfred Anderson — Waco Richfield High School

• 1980s: Edwin Simmons — Hawkins High School

• Dave Campbell Contributor to the Game: Mike Gerik — Texas Farm Bureau Insurance

• Dave Campbell Contributor to the Game: Dallas Huston — Announcer, Brownwood

• Eddie Joseph/THSFHOF Coach: Terry Cron — Bartlett, Commerce & Mart High Schools

• Eddie Joseph/THSFHOF Coach: Chris Koetting — Canadian High School