Rod Woodson

Hall of Fame Defensive Back

Rod Woodson is a former NFL defensive back, playing 17 seasons in the league. A 6-time All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler, Woodson is considered one of the best defensive players of all time. 

Woodson began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers after they selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. Woodson had a 10-year stint with the Steelers, which included an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1993. 

Woodson then played for the Baltimore Ravens where he was a key piece in their dominant defense that led the team to a Super Bowl championship in the 2000-2001 season. Woodson later played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. 

Woodson holds the record for fumble recoveries by a defensive player (32), and interceptions returned for a touchdown (12). Woodson finished his career with 71 interceptions, which are the third-most in NFL history. 

Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2009 class in his first year of eligibility. 

Woodson was an All-American defensive back and an All-American kick returner at Purdue University. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Woodson grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and during his playing career, he held youth camps at his former high school.

After his playing career ended, Woodson began working as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2011, he started his coaching career with the Raiders as a cornerbacks coach. Woodson will serve as a head coach in the XFL for Las Vegas in 2023.