The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 167 With two weeks to go in the 2015 season, longtime NFL defensive back Charles Woodson announced that his legendary career was coming to an end. The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner, No. 4 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, four-time first-team All-Pro and four-time second-team All-Pro was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and won Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers. He also played in Super Bowl XXXVII with the Oakland Raiders. Charles Woodson Retires: The End Of An Era 1 Player in league history has ever totaled 50-plus interceptions and 20 or more sacks in his career — Woodson finished with 65 and 20, respectively. 2 Players since 1970 played in the league for at least 10 years and made the Pro Bowl in their first and last seasons — Wood- son and Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. 5 Passes he intercepted in 2015, his final year in the NFL. That total tied for sixth in the league. 6 Consecutive seasons where Woodson scored at least one touchdown via in- terception return, from 2006-11, which is an NFL record. 13 Defensive touchdowns scored by Woodson, which is tied with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper for the NFL re- cord. His 11 interceptions returned for scores are tied for the second most in league annals. 14.9 Average yards per intercep- tion return during his career. 18 Straight years where Woodson posted at least one interception, which is the second-longest streak of all time behind Darrell Green's 19. 39 Years old was Woodson's age when he suited up for his final Pro Bowl, making him the oldest defender to ever par- ticipate in the annual all-star game. Accord- ing to ESPN.com, only five other defensive backs have ever made the Pro Bowl after 35. 65 Interceptions snared by Wood- son in his 18 years in the league, which is tied for fifth all time. He also forced 28 fumbles and recovered 16. 251 Games started in Woodson's career, which is tied for ninth all time. He missed just 34 regular-season games — zero in his final three seasons — and started all 16 contests 10 times. He played in a game without starting just three times. 2009 Was the year he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year laurels from the Associated Press — he notched 74 tackles (66 solo), including two sacks, and set career highs with 18 passes defended, nine interceptions (which tied for the NFL lead), 179 interception return yards and three touchdowns. He also forced four fumbles and recovered one that season. • The Superfecta of football's highest honors — winning the Heisman Trophy, Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year, Associated Press NFL Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl — has only ever been accomplished by Woodson and Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen. Both also won a national title in college. • "Hands down. His body of work has shown that time hasn't affected him." — NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott on if Woodson is the greatest defensive back ever (The Washington Post) • "He will step aside with … more Pro Bowl nods than Deion Sanders, more interceptions than Ronnie Lott, having played more positions than Rod Woodson. Nine months from his 40th birthday, Woodson will finish his career having played five more seasons than Lawrence Taylor, who was largely finished by his early 30s; Woodson was just getting started. 'His talent level, mixed with his football IQ are a match that I've never seen in another player,' said [Aaron] Rodgers, the Green Bay quarterback who believes Woodson is the greatest player with whom he has shared a field." — The Washington Post's Kent Babb, who dubbed Woodson the greatest defensive player in league history • "I think he's the greatest defensive back of all time. Really, no other defensive back can do all the things that he's been able to do — maybe Rod Woodson is right there behind him, but I look at his ver - satility: a guy that can play all of the different positions, can cover, can tackle in the open field, could blitz the quarterback." — Three-time All-Pro safety Rodney Harrison on Woodson's legacy during an appearance on Pro Football Talk • "I had seven tackles, two interceptions — one for a touchdown — a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack. Not only that, but I was going against Calvin Johnson, one of the best receivers in the game, and he finished with only two catches (on 12 targets) for 12 yards. I thought to myself afterward that if there was any game that displayed the type of player that I am, that was it. Someone who could do it all." — Woodson on what he felt was his best game ever — a 34-12 Packers' victory over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day 2009 (ESPN.com) FIRST NFL INTERCEPTION: Sept. 27, 1998 — thrown by Jason Garrett, who was in his fifth full year as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach when Woodson retired. LAST NFL INTERCEPTION: Nov. 1, 2015 — thrown by Geno Smith, who was just 8 years old when Woodson debuted in the NFL in 1998. BY THE NUMBERS Woodson spent 11 of his 18 professional seasons with the Oakland Raiders during two different stints; he played for the Green Bay Packers the other seven years, from 2006‑12. "So Woodson has individual awards (including that Heisman, which no other defensive player can claim), a championship, big‑time stats, versatility, crazy longevity and has excelled at two positions. Try to find a hole in his list of accomplish‑ ments." YAHOO! SPORTS' FRANK SCHWAB PHOTO COURTESY OAKLAND RAIDERS BY RYAN TICE