Gold Jacket Spotlight: For Rod Woodson, complacency never set in
Gold Jacket Spotlight
Published on : 12/4/2023
In Episode 217 of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s “Heart of a Hall of Famer” program, ROD WOODSON was asked, “What was the hardest obstacle to overcome in your career?”
Rod leaned back and gave his reply some thought.
“Complacency could have been,” he said.
From his days as a Purdue Boilermaker, to the 10th pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, to Super Bowl XXXV champion, Rod understood he couldn’t settle for simply being good.
“One of coaches asked me to be more than an athlete, to learn the game,” said Rod, who this week steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight. “A guy named Carnell Lake came into the Steelers’ organization two years later (after he was drafted in 1987), and we worked out like crazy. We worked out together … I wanted more.”
After only four years in the NFL, Rod had earned the respect of his peers, accumulating numerous accolades between Purdue and Pittsburgh: two-time first-team All-American in both football and track & field, three-time first-team All-Big Ten, two-time first-team All-Pro and two Pro Bowl nods.
Despite Rod’s success, football wasn’t always in the big picture.
He took up the sport only to spend more time with his two older brothers, playing in the local Police Athletic League program. Then, as a high school sophomore, Rod quit the sport altogether after a few games. He returned the following year after guidance from his track coach, Jim Gurnell.
“I believed that (if) you're not my parents, I don't need you yelling and screaming at me. If you want me to do something, just tell me. That's the kind of attitude I had,” he said.
From then on, it clicked. Rod fell in love with the game and stopped at nothing to get better.
“Track was my first love, because I was really good at it,” Rod said during the “Heart of a Hall of Famer” program. “I love football because I had to work with other people. You can’t be selfish and be great as a team.”
Year after year, Rod continued to progress, getting bigger, faster and stronger, until he filled out a 6-foot, 200-pound frame. Even then, he wanted more; he wanted to succeed no matter the circumstances.
During the 1994 season, the star defensive back sprained his MCL in a Week 15 game and hardly practiced the following week. To the surprise Hall of Fame coach BILL COWHER, Rod played the entire contest, helping the Steelers defeat the Cleveland Browns to claim the AFC Central title.
Rod tore his ACL in the season opener in 1995, but he knew he had to come back. All he could ask for was the opportunity.
“I promise you, I’ll be back if we get to the Super Bowl,” he said. And sure enough, the Steelers made it to Super Bowl XXX.
While the Steelers celebrated their AFC Championship Game victory, Cowher looked at Rod with a grin and said, “Woodson! You better start running!”
Nothing would stop Woodson, not even what’s considered a season-ending injury for most players.
In the NFL, Woodson was known as a “ball hawk,” best remembered for his NFL record of 12 interceptions returned for a touchdown. The pick-six is the perfect play to describe Woodson and his life. Complacency could set in after an interception, going down or running out of bounds, but not for Rod. He wanted to keep going no matter how far he had to run.
From his first pick-six, in a Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987, to his 12th, and longest, a 98-yard return in 2002 against the Denver Broncos, Rod etched his name in history as one of the most versatile playmakers in the sport.
"There's nothing about it I wouldn't do over again,” he said. “All the decisions I've made in my life, all the mistakes I've made, all the right decisions I've made, have been a part of my growth. You live and learn. It takes you awhile.”
Rod leaned back and gave his reply some thought.
“Complacency could have been,” he said.
From his days as a Purdue Boilermaker, to the 10th pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, to Super Bowl XXXV champion, Rod understood he couldn’t settle for simply being good.
“One of coaches asked me to be more than an athlete, to learn the game,” said Rod, who this week steps into the Gold Jacket Spotlight. “A guy named Carnell Lake came into the Steelers’ organization two years later (after he was drafted in 1987), and we worked out like crazy. We worked out together … I wanted more.”
After only four years in the NFL, Rod had earned the respect of his peers, accumulating numerous accolades between Purdue and Pittsburgh: two-time first-team All-American in both football and track & field, three-time first-team All-Big Ten, two-time first-team All-Pro and two Pro Bowl nods.
Despite Rod’s success, football wasn’t always in the big picture.
He took up the sport only to spend more time with his two older brothers, playing in the local Police Athletic League program. Then, as a high school sophomore, Rod quit the sport altogether after a few games. He returned the following year after guidance from his track coach, Jim Gurnell.
“I believed that (if) you're not my parents, I don't need you yelling and screaming at me. If you want me to do something, just tell me. That's the kind of attitude I had,” he said.
From then on, it clicked. Rod fell in love with the game and stopped at nothing to get better.
“Track was my first love, because I was really good at it,” Rod said during the “Heart of a Hall of Famer” program. “I love football because I had to work with other people. You can’t be selfish and be great as a team.”
Year after year, Rod continued to progress, getting bigger, faster and stronger, until he filled out a 6-foot, 200-pound frame. Even then, he wanted more; he wanted to succeed no matter the circumstances.
During the 1994 season, the star defensive back sprained his MCL in a Week 15 game and hardly practiced the following week. To the surprise Hall of Fame coach BILL COWHER, Rod played the entire contest, helping the Steelers defeat the Cleveland Browns to claim the AFC Central title.
Rod tore his ACL in the season opener in 1995, but he knew he had to come back. All he could ask for was the opportunity.
“I promise you, I’ll be back if we get to the Super Bowl,” he said. And sure enough, the Steelers made it to Super Bowl XXX.
While the Steelers celebrated their AFC Championship Game victory, Cowher looked at Rod with a grin and said, “Woodson! You better start running!”
Nothing would stop Woodson, not even what’s considered a season-ending injury for most players.
In the NFL, Woodson was known as a “ball hawk,” best remembered for his NFL record of 12 interceptions returned for a touchdown. The pick-six is the perfect play to describe Woodson and his life. Complacency could set in after an interception, going down or running out of bounds, but not for Rod. He wanted to keep going no matter how far he had to run.
From his first pick-six, in a Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1987, to his 12th, and longest, a 98-yard return in 2002 against the Denver Broncos, Rod etched his name in history as one of the most versatile playmakers in the sport.
"There's nothing about it I wouldn't do over again,” he said. “All the decisions I've made in my life, all the mistakes I've made, all the right decisions I've made, have been a part of my growth. You live and learn. It takes you awhile.”
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