Charles Woodson Green Bay Packers & Oakland Raiders

"It’s bigger than me … If you understand that, you understand that it's bigger than you too. It ain’t about one individual, it never is. We can never get done what we want to accomplish with one individual … It's bigger than me, it's bigger than you, but it ain’t bigger than us.”

Charles Woodson combined the quickness and agility of a “cover corner” with the size, strength and willingness to bring down ball carriers at a level few in the National Football League’s history have matched.

The fourth overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, Woodson stepped into the Oakland Raiders’ starting lineup immediately. Playing in all 16 games, he intercepted five passes and forced two fumbles to earn the AP Rookie of the Year Award, the first of many honors during his 18-year career.

Woodson played 254 regular-season games with the Raiders and Green Bay Packers, totaling 65 interceptions, fifth best in league history. He led the NFL twice (nine in 2009 and seven in 2011) and recorded at least one interception every season he played, finishing one-year shy of tying Darrell Green’s record of 19 seasons in a row. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns in 2009 on his way to receiving AP Defensive Player of the Year honors. For his career, Woodson returned 11 interceptions for touchdowns. Adding two fumble returns for scores, his 13 career defensive TDs are tied for first in League history. He was the first played with a “pick six” in six consecutive seasons.

In 2014, Woodson became the first player in NFL history to accumulate 50 interceptions and 20 sacks. Other career totals included more than 1,200 tackles, 54 tackles for loss, 33 forced fumbles and 183 passes defensed.

Woodson was a three-time All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Success as a pro was foreshadowed both in college and high school. At the University of Michigan, he entered the starting lineup in Week 2 of his freshman season and never looked back, earning All-Big Ten honors three times, All-America twice and the 1997 Heisman Trophy as a junior before declaring for the NFL Draft. He won Ohio’s “Mr. Football Award” in 1994 after rushing for 2,208 yards and scoring 230 points as a senior at Fremont Ross High School.

He is one of only two players (with Hall of Famer Marcus Allen) to win a Heisman Trophy, AP Rookie of the Year Award, AP Player of the Year Award and a Super Bowl title in his career.

Charles Woodson's Stats

Additional Career Statistics: Sacks: 20.0; Punt Returns: 90-736; Kick Returns: 5-47: Receiving: 2-27; Rushing: 1-(-3)

Charles Woodson's Championship Games

2000 AFC – Baltimore Ravens 16, Oakland Raiders 3

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had two tackles and one pass defensed.

2002 AFC – Oakland Raiders 41, Tennessee Titans 24

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had five tackles and three assists.

2007 NFC – New York Giants 23, Green Bay Packers 20 (OT)

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had four tackles, one assist and one pass defensed.

2010 NFC – Green Bay Packers 21, Chicago Bears 14

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had three tackles.

Super Bowl XXXVII – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had five tackles, three assists and one interception for 12 yards.

Super Bowl XLV – Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25

Woodson started at left cornerback. He had two tackles and one assist.

Charles Woodson's Career Highlights

All-Pro: 1999 (AP, PFWA)  ·  2001 (SN)  ·  2009 (AP, PFWA, SN, SI, ESPN)  ·  2011 (AP, SN)

All-Pro Second Team: 2000 (AP)  ·  2008 (AP)  ·  2010 (AP)  ·  2015 (AP)        

All-NFC: 1999 (PW)  ·  2001 (PW)  ·  2008 (PW)  ·  2009 (PW) ·  2011 (PW)

(9) – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002*, 2009*, 2010*, 2011, 2012, 2016

* Did not play

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League in Interceptions – 2 (2009, 2011)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns on Interception Returns, Career – 11

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns on Interception Returns, Season – 3 (2009)

·    [Tied for 5th] Most Interceptions, Career – 65

Raiders records held by Woodson

(Records through the 2015 season, Woodson’s final season with Oakland)

·    [2nd] Most Interceptions, Rookie Season – 5 (1998)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Defensive Touchdowns, Rookie Season – 1 (1998)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns on Interceptions, Rookie Season – 1 (1998)

·    [3rd] Most Interception Return Yards, Rookie Season – 118 (1998)

·    [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading Team in Interceptions – 3 (1998, 2014, 2015)

·    [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Interceptions – 2 (2014-15)

Packers records held by Woodson

(Records through the 2012 season, Woodson’s final season with Green Bay)

·    [1st] Most Touchdowns on Interceptions, Career – 9

·    [1st] Most Seasons Leading League in Interceptions – 2 (2009, 2011)

·    [1st] Most Defensive Touchdowns, Career– 10

·    [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns on Interceptions, Season – 3 (2009)

·    [Tied for 1st] Most Defensive Touchdowns, Season– 3 (2009)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns on Interceptions, Season – 2 (2008)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions, Season – 9 (2009)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Punt Returns, Game – 7 (vs. Minnesota, Dec. 21, 2006)

·    [Tied for 2nd] Most Defensive Touchdowns, Season– 2 (2007, 2008)

·    [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading Team in Interceptions – 4 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)

·    [Tied for 4th] Most Interceptions, Career – 38

·    [Tied for 4th] Most Punt Returns, Season – 41 (2006)

·    [5th] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 568

NFL Statistical Championships     

            Interception Titles: 2009, 2011

NFC Statistical Championships     

            Interception Titles: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011

Team Statistical Championships   

            Interception Titles: 1998, 2006^GB, 2008 ^GB, 2009 ^GB, 2011 ^GB, 2014, 2015

            Punt Return Titles: 2006^GB, 2007 ^GB      

^GB Green Bay  All other honors with Oakland

·       1998 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

·       1998 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (December)

·       2009 AP Defensive Player of the Year

·       2009 Defensive Player of the Year (PFW)

·       2013 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 5)

·       2014 AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12)

·       2015 AFC Defensive Player of the Month (October)

·       2000s All-Decade Team

(Division Finish in Parentheses)

Qualified for Postseason in Bold

Charles Woodson's Career Capsule

Full Name: Charles C. Woodson

Birthdate: October 7, 1976

Birthplace: Fremont, Ohio

High School: Ross (OH)

Pro Career: 18 seasons, 254 games

Drafted: 1st round (4th overall) in 1998 by Oakland 

Charles Woodson Enshrinement Speech

CHARLES WOODSON: (Singing) Mama, mama, you know I love you. Mama, mama, you're the queen of my heart. Your love is like tears from the stars.

(Cheers and applause.)

I think I lost a bet. I love my mama, man.

(Cheers and applause.)

Look no further than my mama to find out where I get it from. My passion, how hard I work, that comes from my mother.

(Cheers and applause.)

I watched her every day as a child get up, work her fingers to the bone to make sure that she provided for her family, for myself, my brother and my sister. Single‑parent household.

(Cheers and applause.)

They say that – you hear people say a woman can't raise a man. I call bullshit.

(Cheers and applause.)

My mama raised two of them. Thank you, Mama.

I want to thank my dad. I want to thank my hometown of Fremont, Ohio. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and my village certainly done right by me and my family. So I thank you.

So to my mom, my dad, my hometown: Without you, I am not here.

To my sister, Shannon, who cannot be here to join in this occasion: Big moment for our family. Dealing with COVID. She's fighting.

(Cheers and applause.)

You know, throughout my career, I can remember getting calls from my sister periodically, whether I was riding down the 880 freeway in Oakland, or Lombardi Avenue in Green Bay, and she would just hit me with these three words: “Hey, little brother, I love you.”

It always seemed to hit me at the right time, you know, to get me through the day or get me through the week. Sister, I just want you to know we're thinking about you. Wish you were here. I love you. Without you, I am not here.

To my brother, Terry, my brother, my rabbit who I was chasing as a child: You built me for this game through tough love. I remember we would wrestle as kids, man, and fight. You would hold me down, and you'd make that fist, man, and put your knuckle out and just hit me in the same place till my skin would raise, and I had to sit there and endure that pain.

But when I go back and think about 2002, going through the playoffs with a broken leg, and I think about the coach telling me, “You've got to practice if you're going to play,” and I had to go out there and run around on that leg every day and practice just to prove that I could do it. On a Sunday.

And I did that. We made it to the Super Bowl. The only problem is I ran into Derrick Brooks and (John) Lynch, and it didn't turn out so well.

But, Bro, you built me for an 18‑year career. I thank you for that tough love. Without you, I am not here.

(Cheers and applause.)

My boy James, my brother from another mother: Ain't nobody in this world, man, that I would want to stand back to back with, toe to toe, and fight with anybody. As a matter of fact, we've done that a couple of times. We got this tattoo years ago, man, that said "My Brother's Keeper." And we've been having each other's back ever since. Man, I love you, man, like no other. Without you, I'm not here.

To my family, my wife, my kids. April, my front, my back, my side to side. I told you years ago that you was the best thing that ever happened to me, and that still rings true today.

(Cheers and applause.)

You lift me up. You keep me humble. You make me honest. You've allowed me and made me the best version of myself, and I love you for that. I thank you and I love you now and forever. Without you, I most definitely am not here.

To my boys, Charles and Chase, you guys don't quite understand it right now. You haven't been through anything. You haven't fought for anything as hard and as long as I have, as these men up here. But once you go through life, you go through your own journey, and life throws its obstacles at you.

When you turn 35, 40 years old, you'll begin to understand why a grown man will stand up here and cry.

(Cheers and applause.)

For me and your mother, the sun, the moon and the stars revolve around you two boys. I just want you to do one thing for me: Love your mother the way that I love mine.

(Cheers and applause.)

You see, football is what I did. But those people that I mentioned, that's who I am. I love you guys. I love you back.

And I need you to indulge me for a minute. My teams. Fremont Ross Little Giants. Anybody that went to Fremont Ross, any player that played with me, please stand up. Stand up.

Any Michigan Wolverine out there, a player, keep standing, keep standing. Any Michigan Wolverine, stand up. Any Green Bay Packer, past, future, present, old fans, stand up. Any Oakland Raider fan, Las Vegas Raider fan, stand up. Keep standing. Keep standing.

Anybody who's a fan of the way I played the game of football, you stand up to. Anybody.

(Cheers and applause.)

My coach, Lloyd Carr, told me a long time ago: There's no one bigger than the team. No one bigger than the team.

The things we were able to – keep standing. Don't sit down. Stand up.

(Cheers and applause.)

We did this together. Together, me and you. We were Mr. Ohio together. We were a Heisman Trophy winner together. We were National Champions together. We were Defensive Rookies together, Defensive Player of the Year together. Super Bowl champions, together.

(Cheers and applause.)

So when I say that when I go in, we all go in, I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

So I want to say thank you to all my coaches that ever pushed me to be better, all my teammates who I battled against and went into battle with, all my trainers who pieced me back together to get me back in the game, the medical staff, I thank you. I would not be here without you.

You may sit down now, thank you.

(Cheers and applause.)

You know, I grew up hour and a half west from here, in Fremont, Ohio. It's where I picked up my first pair of cleats to play this great game that we play. And I feel like it's so fitting that here today I put those cleats down for the last time, here in Canton, Ohio, and I walk into the Hall of Fame.

I leave you with this: Be unique, innovative, learn discipline. You own undeniable respect. Love everyone, give everything, never doubt, build your legend.

Thank you. We're in the Hall of Fame, baby.

(Cheers and applause.)