Dwayne Woodruff facts for kids

Dwayne Donzell Woodruff, born on February 18, 1957, is an American judge and a former professional football player. He played for twelve seasons as a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was chosen in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL draft and made 37 interceptions during his career. As a rookie, he helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XIV. After his football career, Woodruff earned a law degree and became a judge in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Dwayne Woodruff's Football Journey

Dwayne Woodruff was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 1979 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the University of Louisville Cardinals. He started his NFL career with the Steelers in September 1979. He played in all 16 games that season. He also made two important interceptions in the postseason. These plays helped his team reach Super Bowl XIV.

Leading the Team in Interceptions

In 1982, Woodruff led the Steelers in interceptions with five. This made him one of the top players in the AFC for interceptions that year. Because of his great performance, he was named the Steelers' Most Valuable Player for 1982. One of his most memorable plays happened during an overtime game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Woodruff intercepted a pass and ran it 30 yards. This led to a game-winning touchdown for the Steelers.

Woodruff was a strong defensive player. He led or co-led the Steelers in interceptions in five different seasons: 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1989. He is ranked fifth on the Steelers' all-time list with 37 interceptions. He is also on the Steelers' all-time list for interceptions returned for touchdowns, with three. His longest touchdown return was 78 yards against the Miami Dolphins in December 1988. This play helped the Steelers win 40–24.

Recovering Fumbles for Touchdowns

Woodruff also recovered four fumbles during his career. In October 1984, he recovered a fumble and ran it 65 yards for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. This play put the Steelers ahead 7–0, and they went on to win 34–14. In November 1989, he scored another touchdown after a teammate lateraled a recovered fumble to him. This tied the score 14–14 against the Miami Dolphins, and the Steelers won 34–14.

Life After Football: A Career in Law

While still playing in the NFL, Dwayne Woodruff studied law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law in 1988. He then became a lawyer at the Meyer Darragh law firm. It was very unusual for someone to practice law and play in the NFL at the same time, but he did it for three years.

Becoming a Judge

In 1997, Woodruff helped start his own law firm, Woodruff & Flaherty, P.C. (now Flaherty Fardo, LLC). In 2005, he was elected to be a Judge in the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He has mainly worked in the Family Court Division for many years.

Woodruff ran for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 2014 and again in 2017, but he was not elected. However, in November 2015, he was re-elected for a second ten-year term on the Court of Common Pleas. He received the most votes among all eight judges who were up for re-election.

Honors and Family Life

Dwayne Woodruff graduated from the University of Louisville in Kentucky in 1979. His football jersey hangs in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Woodruff Academic Center at the university, where athletes study, was named in his honor in 2007 after he made a large donation.

Woodruff is married to Joy Maxberry Woodruff. They have three children. Their daughter Jillian is a medical doctor in Alaska. Their daughter Jenyce is an attorney in Philadelphia. Their son John is also an attorney and serves as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps.

Giving Back: Charitable Work

Dwayne Woodruff and his wife, Joy, are very involved in helping their community. They lead the "Do The Write Thing" program in Pittsburgh. This program helps middle school students think about how violence affects their lives. Students discuss the issue and write about it. The goal is to encourage them to make choices that stop violence in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

Woodruff is also the Chairman of the Board for the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. He is the Vice President of the NFL Alumni Players Association. He serves on the board of the United Way of Allegheny County. He is also a member of the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity and a lifetime member of the NAACP.

Judge Woodruff and his wife hosted an annual breakfast for five years to find mentors for the Urban Pathways Charter School. Judge Woodruff also leads mock court trials every year for middle school, high school, and law school students. He is a popular speaker for graduations and other events. He has spoken in many states, including Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Alaska.

Since 1982, the Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship, which gives $2000 each year, has been awarded to a senior at New Richmond (Ohio) High School. This is his old high school. In October 2015, Woodruff went back to New Richmond to give an "NFL Golden Football" to his high school football coach, Ron Bird. The NFL gives these special footballs to honor the high schools of all Super Bowl players.

Dwayne Woodruff's Legacy and Awards

Dwayne Woodruff has received many honors for his achievements. He has been inducted into several Halls of Fame:

• The University of Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame
• The New Richmond High School Hall of Fame
• The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame
• The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame (in 2013)

In 2012, he received the Kentucky Governors Cup Award. In October 2015, the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court System gave him the Judicial Outstanding Leadership Award.