Rod Woodson did it all during his college career at Purdue. He played running back and wide receiver on offense, played cornerback and safety on defense, and returned punts and kickoffs. As a result, it was no surprise when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the modern-day “triple threat” star in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
Steelers coach Chuck Noll acknowledged Woodson’s versatility by playing him at cornerback and as a kick returner, but he was too valuable to risk playing him on both offense and defense. Woodson responded by earning Pro Bowl honors in just his third season.
It wasn’t, however, until Noll’s successor Bill Cowher took over that Woodson really blossomed. In 1992 he was second on the team with 100 tackles and collected six sacks. The next season he had eight interceptions, 28 passes defensed, forced two fumbles, two quarterback sacks, blocked a field goal attempt and recorded a team high 79 solo tackles. For his effort he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
In his 17 NFL seasons (1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders) Woodson recorded 71 interceptions; 1,483 interception return yards; 2,362 punt return yards; and 17 touchdowns. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native also reached the end zone on an NFL record 12 interception returns, 1 fumble return, 2 punt returns and 2 kickoff returns. His interception return yards are also an NFL record and his 71 interceptions rank third all time.
Woodson, a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team, was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times; a record for a defensive back and in 1994 was one of only five active players to be named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. The others were Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Reggie White and Ronnie Lott.
Championship Games
1994 AFC – San Diego Chargers 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 13
Woodson started at left cornerback He had one interception for six yards, two punt returns for 10 yards, one fumble, four tackles and two assists.
1995 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Indianapolis Colts 16
Woodson was not active for the game.
1997 NFC – Green Bay Packers 23, San Francisco 49ers 10
Woodson started at left cornerback. He had five tackles in the game.
2000 AFC – Baltimore Ravens 16, Oakland Raiders 3
Woodson did not start in the game but did play. He had two tackles in the game.
2002 AFC – Oakland Raiders 41, Tennessee Titans 24
Woodson started the game at free safety. He had six tackles, one assist and one passed defensed in the game.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Woodson did not start in the game but did play. He had one pass defensed in the game.
Super Bowl XXXV – Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7
Woodson started the game at free safety. He had five tackles and one assist in the game.
Super Bowl XXXVII – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21
Woodson started the game at free safety. He had seven tackles, one assist and one pass defensed in the game.
All-Pro: 1989KR (AP, PFWA, SN, PW), 1990 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1992 (AP, PFWA, SN, NEA), 1993 (AP, PFWA, SN), 1994 (AP, PFWA, SN), 2001S (AP, PFWA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1991 (NEA)
All-AFC: 1989 (PW K), 1990 (UPIK, PWK), 1992 (UPI, PW), 1993 (UPI, PW), 1994 (UPI, PW), 2000S (PW), 2001S (PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1996 (UPI)
K Earned honors as cornerback and kick returner S Earned honors as a safety KR Earned honors as kick returner
(11) –1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
(following his last season in 2003)
• [1st] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 1,483
• [1st] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Career – 12
• [Tied for 1st] Most Opponents Fumbles Recovered, Game – 3 (vs. Pittsburgh – Sept. 15, 2002)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading the League, Interceptions – 2 (1999, 2002)
• [3rd] Most Interceptions, Career – 71
Pro Bowl Records
• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Game – 2 (2003)
• [2nd] Most Interception Return Yards, Game – 73 (1994)
• [2nd] Longest Interception Return – 73 (1994 - lateral)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Game Played – 11
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 88
Steelers’ records held by Woodson
(Records through the 1996 season, Woodson’s final season with Pittsburgh)
• [1st] Most Punt Returns, Career – 256
• [1st] Most Punt Return Yardage, Career – 2,362
• [1st] Most Kickoff Returns, Career – 220
• [1st] Most Kickoff Return Yards, Career – 4,894
• [1st] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Career – 5
• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Season – 2 (1994)
• [2nd] Most Kickoff Returns, Season – 44 (1991)
• [2nd] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 779
• [Tied for 3rd] Longest Punt Return – 80t (vs. Kansas City – Oct. 25, 1992)
49ers’ records held by Woodson
(Records through the 1997 season, Woodson’s final season with San Francisco)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions, Game – 3 (vs. New Orleans – Sept. 17, 1997)
Ravens’ records held by Woodson
(Records through the 2001 season, Woodson’s final season with Baltimore)
• [1st] Most Interceptions, Season – 7 (1999)
• [1st] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 380
• [1st] Most Interception Return Yards, Season – 195 (1999)
• [1st] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Career – 5
• [1st] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Season – 2 (1998, 2000)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Career – 20
• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Game – 2 (at N.Y. Jets – Sept. 13, 1998)
• [2nd] Longest Interception Return – 66t (at Cleveland – Nov. 7, 1999)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions, Season – 6 (1998)
• [3rd] Most Consecutive Starts, Career – 64
Raiders’ records held by Woodson
(Records through the 2003 season, Woodson’s final season with Oakland)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Game – 3 (vs. Tennessee – Sept. 29, 2002)
• [2nd] Longest Interception Return – 98 (at Denver – Nov. 11, 2002)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown, Season – 2 (2002)
NFL Statistical Championships
Interception Titles: 1999 B, 2002 O
AFC Statistical Championships
Interception Titles: 1999 B, 2002 O
Team Statistical Championships
Interception Titles: 1988 P, 1990 P, 1993 P, 1996 P, 1998 B, 1999 B, 2002 O
P Pittsburgh Steelers B Baltimore Ravens O Oakland Raiders
• 1990s All-Decade Team
• 1993 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (AP)
• 1993 AFC Defensive Player of the Year (UPI)
• 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
| 1987 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
8
|
7
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1988 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
5
|
11
|
0
|
(4th)
|
| 1989 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
9
|
7
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1990 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
9
|
7
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1991 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
7
|
9
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 1992 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1993 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
9
|
7
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 1994 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
12
|
4
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1995 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1996 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1997 |
San Francisco 49ers |
13
|
3
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1998 |
Baltimore Ravens |
6
|
10
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1999 |
Baltimore Ravens |
8
|
8
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 2000 |
Baltimore Ravens |
12
|
4
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 2001 |
Baltimore Ravens |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 2002 |
Oakland Raiders |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 2003 |
Oakland Raiders |
4
|
12
|
0
|
(3rd)
|