Is Charles Woodson In The Nfl Hall Of Fame?
Contents
The answer to the question everyone is asking: is Charles Woodson in the NFL Hall of Fame?
Charles Woodson’s Career
Charles Woodson is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a share of the 1997 national championship. Woodson, a “two-way player” who played both cornerback and wide receiver, won the Heisman Trophy in the same year. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. In his first season, Woodson was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
His Time With The Raiders
Charles Woodson spent the first eight years of his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, where he established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive players. A two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Raiders, Woodson helped lead the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2002. He was traded to the Green Bay Packers in 2006, and would go on to win a Super Bowl with them in 2010. Woodson announced his retirement from the NFL in 2015.
His Time With The Packers
Woodson spent the first seven years of his NFL career with the Packers. He rose to prominence as a key member of their defense, which was nicknamed the “Black and Blue” defense. He helped lead the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots, for which he was named the game’s MVP. In 2002, he was moved from cornerback to safety, where he continued to play at a high level. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s and 2000s.
His Stats
Charles Woodson played 18 seasons in the NFL, from 1998 to 2015. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, where he played for seven seasons before signing with the Green Bay Packers in 2006. He played for the Packers for nine seasons before he was released in 2015. He played his final season with the Raiders, retiring as a Raider.
Regular Season
In his 18 seasons, Woodson played in 242 regular season games with 230 starts. He recorded 1,055 tackles (849 solo), 20.5 sacks, 38 interceptions (led league twice), 155 passes defensed (led league four times), 13 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. He ranks second all-time in career interception return yardage with 1,367 yards (behind only Lester Hayes’ 1,410 yards). His career-long interception return was 97 yards for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006. That season he also led the NFL for the second time in interceptions with 8.
Postseason
Woodson was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, his first season with the Raiders. He was named to the Pro Bowl nine times in his career, and was voted All-Pro eight times. He is tied with Darren Sharper for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns in NFL history with 13. Woodson’s 11 defensive touchdowns are tied with Rod Woodson (no relation) for second most all time, behind only Deion Sanders’ 14. His 76 interceptions are the third most in NFL history. He also holds the Raider franchise record for interception return yards in a career with 1,759 and tied for the franchise lead in career interceptions
His Awards
One of the most decorated players in NFL history, Charles Woodson was a Super Bowl champion, a nine-time Pro Bowler, and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He also holds the NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a career. Despite his impressive resume, Woodson has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let’s take a look at his case.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year
In 2009, he was the first pure defender to be named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year since 1971, and only the second defender (Lawrence Taylor was named NFL MVP in 1986) to win the award. He was named to eight Pro Bowls in his career. Woodson also had a streak of 105 consecutive starts.
Pro Bowls
Charles Woodson was selected for the Pro Bowl nine times in his career, tied for the fourth-most among defensive backs in NFL history. He was named to the Pro Bowl team in each of his first four seasons, becoming the first Raiders rookie to be so honored since Lester Hayes in 1977. In 2009, Woodson became only the second player ever to be named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year and FA Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (Ray Lewis was the other).
His Impact On The Game
Charles Woodson, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a share of the national championship in 1997. Woodson, who played both cornerback and safety, is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.
Woodson is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He has also interceptions and return yards than any other player in NFL history.
Woodson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
His Legacy
Charles Woodson is one of the most decorated players in NFL history. He was a two-time All-American at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1997. He was drafted fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders in 1998 and played there for seven seasons. He then spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, winning a Super Bowl with them in 2010. He ended his career with the Raiders in 2015.
Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowler and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He is also the only player in NFL history to have won both the Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Heisman Trophy.
Woodson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
