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University of Oklahoma Athletics
George Cumby Selected for College Football Hall of Fame
January 14, 2026 | Football
NORMAN — An all-time great Oklahoma defender who personified the linebacker position in the 1970s with his speed, relentless drive and sure-fire tackling ability, George Cumby was named Wednesday to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Cumby will become Oklahoma's 25th former player in the College Hall of Fame and the sixth straight defender (defensive lineman Dewey Selmon in 2024, defensive backs Roy Williams in 2022 and Rickey Dixon in 2019 and linebackers Brian Bosworth in 2015 and Rod Shoate in 2013). He will be one of 18 former players and four former coaches inducted as part of the 2026 class during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas. This year's group was named from a national ballot of 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Cumby, who played at OU from 1975-79, spent his first two seasons at OU as a running back (and part-time kick returner) in the Sooners' vaunted 'Wishbone' attack, rushing for a touchdown as a fullback in a 41-7 Fiesta Bowl win over Wyoming as a redshirt freshman to cap the 1976 season. In a move that proved wildly successful, he converted to linebacker ahead of the 1977 campaign. All Cumby did his final three years is earn three first-team All-Big Eight honors, be named 1977 Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year and 1978 and '79 Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year. He was a 1977 first-team All-American by the Associated Press and a unanimous All-American in 1979.
A product of Tyler, Texas, he finished his career ranked second in OU history with 437 tackles despite only playing defense his final three seasons. His five interceptions in 1978 are tied for the most by an Oklahoma linebacker in a season, his seven career interceptions are tied for third in program history by a linebacker and his five career fumble recoveries ranked as second most by a Sooner linebacker at the time. He led OU with 160 tackles in 1979 (fourth most in program history), had 154 in 1977 and 123 in 1978. He became only the third OU linebacker to record at least 100 tackles in three separate seasons, joining Shoate and Daryl Hunt.
Cumby, who was described by then-head coach Barry Switzer as "the only person I know who could go one-on-one with (Texas running back) Earl Campbell and knock him backwards," helped OU to a 32-4 record as a starter (20-1 in the Big Eight) and to four Big Eight titles. With Cumby playing, the Sooners posted a 41-6-1 overall record and finished No. 5 in the AP poll in 1976, No. 7 in 1977 and No. 3 in 1978 and '79. They were also ranked in the AP top 10 in 55 of 58 weeks during his career.
Cumby helped lead OU to four consecutive bowl appearances, including a victory in the 1976 Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl appearances to cap the 1977, '78 and '79 seasons (the Sooners won the last two). His 32 career tackles in bowl games are still a school record. His Sooner teammates in the College Football Hall of Fame are Dewey Selmon, Lee Roy Selmon, Billy Sims and Joe Washington.
A 1980 first-round NFL Draft pick by Green Bay, Cumby went on to play eight years in the NFL with the Packers, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 1982.
After his playing career, Cumby returned to Tyler where he coached football at Texas College and Tyler Junior College. He also coached and served as athletics director at his high school alma mater, Bishop Gorman Catholic School. An ordained minister, Cumby has served as a pastor with several churches.
Statement From OU Head Coach Brent Venables:
"We're absolutely thrilled for George. I can only imagine the excitement he and those close to him are experiencing with today's announcement. Being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame is an unbelievable honor, and, in his case, truly fitting. When you look at all of his accomplishments, all of his statistics and how he positively affected some truly great OU teams, his impact is eye-opening. What a tremendous Sooner. We're incredibly happy for George on this special day."
Cumby will become Oklahoma's 25th former player in the College Hall of Fame and the sixth straight defender (defensive lineman Dewey Selmon in 2024, defensive backs Roy Williams in 2022 and Rickey Dixon in 2019 and linebackers Brian Bosworth in 2015 and Rod Shoate in 2013). He will be one of 18 former players and four former coaches inducted as part of the 2026 class during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas. This year's group was named from a national ballot of 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Cumby, who played at OU from 1975-79, spent his first two seasons at OU as a running back (and part-time kick returner) in the Sooners' vaunted 'Wishbone' attack, rushing for a touchdown as a fullback in a 41-7 Fiesta Bowl win over Wyoming as a redshirt freshman to cap the 1976 season. In a move that proved wildly successful, he converted to linebacker ahead of the 1977 campaign. All Cumby did his final three years is earn three first-team All-Big Eight honors, be named 1977 Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year and 1978 and '79 Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year. He was a 1977 first-team All-American by the Associated Press and a unanimous All-American in 1979.
A product of Tyler, Texas, he finished his career ranked second in OU history with 437 tackles despite only playing defense his final three seasons. His five interceptions in 1978 are tied for the most by an Oklahoma linebacker in a season, his seven career interceptions are tied for third in program history by a linebacker and his five career fumble recoveries ranked as second most by a Sooner linebacker at the time. He led OU with 160 tackles in 1979 (fourth most in program history), had 154 in 1977 and 123 in 1978. He became only the third OU linebacker to record at least 100 tackles in three separate seasons, joining Shoate and Daryl Hunt.
Cumby, who was described by then-head coach Barry Switzer as "the only person I know who could go one-on-one with (Texas running back) Earl Campbell and knock him backwards," helped OU to a 32-4 record as a starter (20-1 in the Big Eight) and to four Big Eight titles. With Cumby playing, the Sooners posted a 41-6-1 overall record and finished No. 5 in the AP poll in 1976, No. 7 in 1977 and No. 3 in 1978 and '79. They were also ranked in the AP top 10 in 55 of 58 weeks during his career.
Cumby helped lead OU to four consecutive bowl appearances, including a victory in the 1976 Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl appearances to cap the 1977, '78 and '79 seasons (the Sooners won the last two). His 32 career tackles in bowl games are still a school record. His Sooner teammates in the College Football Hall of Fame are Dewey Selmon, Lee Roy Selmon, Billy Sims and Joe Washington.
A 1980 first-round NFL Draft pick by Green Bay, Cumby went on to play eight years in the NFL with the Packers, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 1982.
After his playing career, Cumby returned to Tyler where he coached football at Texas College and Tyler Junior College. He also coached and served as athletics director at his high school alma mater, Bishop Gorman Catholic School. An ordained minister, Cumby has served as a pastor with several churches.
Statement From OU Head Coach Brent Venables:
"We're absolutely thrilled for George. I can only imagine the excitement he and those close to him are experiencing with today's announcement. Being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame is an unbelievable honor, and, in his case, truly fitting. When you look at all of his accomplishments, all of his statistics and how he positively affected some truly great OU teams, his impact is eye-opening. What a tremendous Sooner. We're incredibly happy for George on this special day."
George Cumby - 2026 Hall of Fame Class
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