Rod Woodson facts for kids
Woodson in 2019
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| No. 26 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback Safety |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | March 10, 1965 Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | R. Nelson Snider (Fort Wayne, Indiana) |
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| College: | Purdue (1983–1986) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10 | ||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Roderick Kevin Woodson (born March 10, 1965) is a famous former American football player. He played for 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Many people think he was one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time. Woodson holds NFL records for fumble recoveries (32) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (12). He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.
Woodson played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers. He was named an All-American in 1986. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. He played his first 10 years with the Steelers. He was also a key player for the Baltimore Ravens when they won Super Bowl XXXV. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. His 71 career interceptions are the third-most in NFL history. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. He also joined the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. He played most of his career as a cornerback. Later, he switched to playing safety. Woodson was most recently the head coach of the XFL's Vegas Vipers.
After retiring from playing in 2003, Woodson worked as a TV analyst. He was on the NFL Network and the Big Ten Network. In 2011, he became the cornerbacks coach for the Raiders. He then went back to broadcasting for a few years. In 2014, he started coaching again. In 2022, he became a radio commentator for the Baltimore Ravens.
Contents
College Football Career
Woodson received a scholarship to play football at Purdue University. He wanted to study electrical engineering. He mainly played as a cornerback and returned kicks. He also sometimes played offense as a running back and wide receiver. He was named an All-American defensive back in 1985 and 1986. He was also an All-American kick returner in 1986. He was chosen for the All-Big Ten first team three times.
In his last college game, Woodson gained over 150 yards running and catching the ball. He also made ten tackles and forced a fumble. This helped Purdue win against their rival, Indiana.
Woodson left Purdue with 13 school records. He tied the school record with 11 career interceptions. He returned these for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He is still among the top players at Purdue for interceptions and kickoff return yards.
Purdue added Woodson to their Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2014, the Big Ten Network named him one of the top four Purdue Football players ever. Fans voted for him online. In 2016, Woodson was chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Track and Field Achievements
Woodson was also a great track and field athlete at Purdue. He earned All-America honors twice. He finished second in the 55-meter hurdles at the 1985 NCAA championships. He was third in the 55-meter hurdles at the 1987 NCAA championships. Woodson held the NCAA 60-meter hurdles record for 10 years. He still holds school records in both the 60 and 110-meter hurdles. He won five Big Ten championships at Purdue. In 1984, he qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 110-meter hurdles. However, he chose to play football in the NFL after college. He earned a degree in criminal justice.
Professional Football Career
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Woodson in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. He was the 10th player chosen overall. The Steelers really wanted Woodson to help their defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers Years
Woodson missed training camp in 1987 because of a contract dispute. He ran track on the European circuit during this time. He had the fourth fastest 110-meter hurdle time in the world. He won a bronze medal at the 1987 USA Olympic festival.
On October 28, 1987, the Steelers signed Woodson to a four-year contract. It was worth $1.80 million. His contract holdout was the longest in Steelers history at that time.
On November 8, 1987, Woodson played his first NFL game. It was a 17–16 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. He returned kicks and punts in that game. On November 22, 1987, Woodson made his first career interception. He caught a pass from Bengals' quarterback Boomer Esiason. He returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. He finished his first season with 20 tackles in eight games.
Becoming a Starter
In 1988, Woodson became a starting cornerback for the Steelers. He also continued to return kicks and punts. On October 9, 1988, he returned a kick for a 92-yard touchdown. This was his first kick return touchdown. In Week 12, he made his first career sack on Browns' quarterback Bernie Kosar. Woodson started all 16 games in 1988. He had 88 tackles, four interceptions, and half a sack.
In 1989, Woodson continued as a starting cornerback. On November 19, 1989, he returned another kickoff for an 84-yard touchdown. He started 15 games and had 80 tackles and three interceptions. The Steelers made the playoffs that year. Woodson played in his first playoff game, a win against the Houston Oilers.
All-Pro Seasons
In 1990, Woodson was still a starting cornerback. On September 16, 1990, he returned a punt for a 52-yard touchdown. This was his first punt return touchdown. The Steelers offered him a big contract extension. He was chosen for the 1991 Pro Bowl. Woodson started all 16 games in 1990. He had 66 tackles and five interceptions. He was voted first-team All-Pro.
In 1991, Woodson continued to play well. He recorded his first solo sack on Cowboys' quarterback Steve Beuerlein. Steelers' head coach Chuck Noll retired after the 1991 season. Woodson started 15 games that year.
Under New Coaches
In 1992, Bill Cowher became the new head coach for the Steelers. Dom Capers became the new defensive coordinator. Woodson started the season with two interceptions against Oilers' quarterback Warren Moon. On October 25, 1992, Woodson returned a punt for an 80-yard touchdown. In Week 14, he made a career-high two sacks on Bears' quarterback Jim Harbaugh. He was chosen for the 1993 Pro Bowl. He started all 16 games in 1992. He had 100 tackles, a career-high six sacks, and four interceptions.
In 1993, Woodson signed a new four-year, $12 million contract. This made him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. He started the season with two interceptions against 49ers' quarterback Steve Young. On October 17, 1993, he intercepted two passes from Saints' quarterback Wade Wilson. He returned one for a 63-yard touchdown. Woodson started all 16 games in 1993. He had 95 tackles, a career-high eight interceptions, and two sacks. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Injury and Return
In 1994, Woodson continued as the top cornerback. On November 14, 1994, he intercepted a pass from Bills' quarterback Jim Kelly. He returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. He started 15 games and had 67 tackles, four interceptions, and three sacks.
In 1995, Woodson suffered a serious knee injury. He tore his ACL in the first game of the season. He had surgery to repair it. The Steelers made it to Super Bowl XXX that year. Woodson made an amazing return from his injury. He played in the Super Bowl just 19 weeks after his surgery. He was the first player to return from reconstructive knee surgery in the same season. The Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl.
In 1996, Woodson returned as a starting cornerback. He had a good season with 71 tackles and six interceptions. The Steelers made the playoffs but lost to the New England Patriots. After the 1996 season, Woodson became a free agent. He left the Steelers after 10 seasons.
San Francisco 49ers Season
On July 17, 1997, the San Francisco 49ers signed Woodson to a three-year contract. He became a starting cornerback for the 49ers. On September 14, 1997, he made a career-high three interceptions against Saints' quarterback Danny Wuerffel. He started all 16 games and had 46 tackles and three interceptions. The 49ers made the playoffs but lost to the Green Bay Packers. In February 1998, the 49ers released Woodson.
Baltimore Ravens Years
On February 21, 1998, the Baltimore Ravens signed Woodson. He was reunited with defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Woodson became a starting cornerback for the Ravens. On September 13, 1998, he had 11 tackles and two interceptions. He returned one interception 60 yards for a touchdown. On November 8, 1998, he returned another interception for an 18-yard touchdown. He started all 16 games in 1998. He had 88 tackles, six interceptions, and two touchdowns.
In 1999, the Ravens moved Woodson to free safety. This was because they drafted a new cornerback. Woodson became a leader in the young Ravens' defense. On November 7, 1999, he returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown. In Week 11, he made his 50th career interception. On December 5, 1999, he returned another interception 47 yards for a touchdown. He started all 16 games and had 66 tackles, seven interceptions, and two touchdowns.
In 2000, Woodson continued as a starting safety. He was a mentor to the younger players. He was chosen for the 2001 Pro Bowl. This was his 10th Pro Bowl selection. He started all 16 games and had 74 tackles and four interceptions. The Baltimore Ravens had a great season. They won Super Bowl XXXV by defeating the New York Giants 34–7. Woodson had six tackles in the Super Bowl.
In 2001, the Ravens released Woodson but then re-signed him. He continued as the starting free safety. On December 2, 2001, he returned an interception from Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning for a 47-yard touchdown. He started all 16 games and had 74 tackles and three interceptions. The Ravens made the playoffs but lost to the Steelers.
Oakland Raiders Seasons
On May 1, 2002, the Oakland Raiders signed Woodson to a six-year contract. He became the starting free safety for the Raiders. On September 28, 2002, he made a career-high three interceptions. He returned one 82 yards for a touchdown. On November 11, 2002, he returned an interception 98 yards for the final touchdown of his career. He was chosen for the 2002 Pro Bowl. He started all 16 games and had 82 tackles and a career-high eight interceptions. The Raiders reached Super Bowl XXXVII but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2003, Woodson continued as a starting safety. On November 16, 2003, he made the last interception of his career. It was against Vikings' quarterback Daunte Culpepper. On November 26, 2003, the Raiders placed Woodson on injured reserve due to a knee injury. He had surgery the next month. He finished the season with 51 tackles and two interceptions in ten games. On July 28, 2004, the Raiders released Woodson.
NFL Records and Achievements
Woodson played 17 seasons in the NFL. He recorded 71 interceptions and 1,483 interception return yards. He also had 32 fumble recoveries and 17 touchdowns. He holds the NFL record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown (12). He is tied for the record of most fumble recoveries in one game (3). His 1,483 interception return yards are the second most in NFL history. His 32 fumble recoveries are a record for defensive players. His 71 interceptions rank third all time.
Woodson was chosen for the Pro Bowl 11 times. This is a record for his position. He was also the first player to go to the Pro Bowl as a cornerback, safety, and kick returner. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He was also chosen as an All-Pro player seven times.
In 1994, he was named to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was one of only five active players on that team. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him number 87 on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
On January 31, 2009, Woodson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was chosen in his first year of eligibility.
Coaching Career
Woodson coached defense at Valley Christian Senior High in Dublin, California. He was also the head coach of the women's Varsity Basketball team.
The Raiders hired Woodson as their cornerbacks coach on February 14, 2011. He was not kept on the coaching staff after the 2011 season. On June 12, 2013, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced Woodson would be an intern coach. On February 9, 2015, Woodson returned to the Raiders. He was an assistant defensive backs coach. On March 9, 2017, he was promoted back to cornerbacks coach. Woodson was fired after the 2017 season.
On April 13, 2022, Woodson was announced as a head coach for the 2023 season of the XFL. He coached the Vegas Vipers. After a 2–8 season in 2023, Woodson and the Vipers decided to part ways.
Head Coaching Record
XFL
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| LV | 2023 | 2 | 8 | .200 | 4th XFL North | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 2 | 8 | .200 | — | — | — | |||
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| NFL Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| NFL record | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | Punt Returns | Kickoff Returns | |||||||||||||||||
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| Comb | Solo | Ast | Sack | Int | Yds | TD | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| 1987 | PIT | 8 | 20 | — | — | 0.0 | 1 | 45 | 1 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 135 | 8.4 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 290 | 22.3 | 36 | 0 |
| 1988 | PIT | 16 | 88 | — | — | 0.5 | 4 | 98 | 0 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 281 | 8.5 | 28 | 0 | 37 | 850 | 23.0 | 92 | 1 |
| 1989 | PIT | 15 | 80 | — | — | 0.0 | 3 | 39 | 0 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 207 | 7.1 | 20 | 0 | 36 | 982 | 27.3 | 84 | 1 |
| 1990 | PIT | 16 | 66 | — | — | 0.0 | 5 | 67 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 398 | 10.5 | 52 | 1 | 35 | 764 | 21.8 | 49 | 0 |
| 1991 | PIT | 15 | 71 | — | — | 1.0 | 3 | 72 | 0 | — | 1 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 320 | 11.4 | 40 | 0 | 44 | 880 | 20.0 | 47 | 0 |
| 1992 | PIT | 16 | 100 | — | — | 6.0 | 4 | 90 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 32 | 364 | 11.4 | 80 | 1 | 25 | 469 | 18.8 | 32 | 0 |
| 1993 | PIT | 16 | 95 | — | — | 2.0 | 8 | 138 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 338 | 8.0 | 39 | 0 | 15 | 294 | 19.6 | 44 | 0 |
| 1994 | PIT | 15 | 83 | 67 | 16 | 3.0 | 4 | 109 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 319 | 8.2 | 42 | 0 | 15 | 365 | 24.3 | 54 | 0 |
| 1995 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | PIT | 16 | 67 | 57 | 10 | 1.0 | 6 | 121 | 1 | — | 0 | 3 | 42 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997 | SF | 14 | 48 | 43 | 5 | 0.0 | 3 | 81 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | BAL | 16 | 88 | 76 | 12 | 0.0 | 6 | 108 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | BAL | 16 | 65 | 53 | 12 | 0.0 | 7 | 195 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | BAL | 16 | 77 | 67 | 10 | 0.0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | BAL | 16 | 76 | 56 | 20 | 0.0 | 3 | 57 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | OAK | 16 | 82 | 70 | 12 | 0.0 | 8 | 225 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 64 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | OAK | 10 | 51 | 41 | 10 | 0.0 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 238 | 1,158 | 530 | 108 | 13.5 | 71 | 1,483 | 12 | 59 | 20 | 32 | 137 | 1 | 260 | 2,362 | 9.1 | 80 | 2 | 220 | 4,894 | 22.2 | 92 | 2 | |
Personal Life
Rod Woodson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the youngest of three children. His father was African American, and his mother was of German descent. His family faced challenges because they were mixed-race.
From 1994 to 2008, Woodson held an annual youth football camp. It was called the Rod Woodson Youth Week. It took place at his old high school. Current and former NFL players helped kids learn football skills. They also taught them about the importance of education. The week included a cheer camp, a basketball game, and a concert. Woodson paid for most of the event. He also gave academic awards to kids at the camp. Woodson is also a devoted Christian.
Woodson lives in Pleasanton, California with his wife, Nikki. They got married in 1992. They have five children: two sons and three daughters.
In high school, Woodson was a great athlete. He played defensive back and many offensive positions. He was named Parade and USA Today All-American. He was also named Indiana "Mr. Football" in 1982. Besides football, he won state championships in both high and low hurdles. He also played varsity basketball and was all-conference in his senior year.
