Posted on 12/21/2015 6:19:38 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Charles Woodson will leave the NFL playing as well as he did upon entering the league 18 years ago.
The Oakland Raiders safety announced Monday evening that he will retire after the 2015 season.
"2015 is going to be my last season playing in the NFL," Woodson said. "Was it a tough decision? Kind of in a way. But a couple weeks ago it hit me that this would be it. It's important for me to let Raider Nation know now."
One of the most versatile, talented and productive defensive backs in NFL history, Woodson was a three-time first-team All-Pro at cornerback for the Raiders and Green Bay Packers before successfully converting to safety in his twilight years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nfl.com ...
Truly one of the greatest defensive players to ever play in the NFL. Now the question is, is if he’s going to go to the HoF as a Raider or Packer. I predict the Raiders, but he will still go into the Packers Hall of Fame.
Quitter. /s
Al Kaline has been continuously employed by the Detroit Tigers since 1953.
Rare indeed is the gladiator who knows the best time to sheath his sword. I am glad for him, and wish him as much success in the remainder of his life.
It seems like some of the best defensive backs in recent decades start as cornerbacks and successfully transition to safety later in their careers. I think it helps their longevity, as they move to a position where speed is less critical while they slow down with age. Charles Woodson and Ronnie Lott are two that immediately come to mind.
I know Darrell Waltrip says he wishes he had retired from driving in NASCAR earlier. He went quite a few years without a win (Or even being at all competitive) before he retired.
I think its one of the reasons so many are retiring young like Jeff Gordon. He won in his final year and had a legitimate shot at the championship.
What!? No Brian Bosworth? :{)
Fun to watch, competitive player - I remember him in college. Honestly did not realize he was still playing. Not many guys from the 90’s still out there!
I was reading that Woodson and Brady were in the same freshman recruiting class at Michigan. Imagine that for a second. In 1995 arriving on campus together, hanging out, shooting hoops, grabbing lunch. Just a couple of 18 y/o kids. Fast forward 20 years and they are arguably the best QB and DB in NFL history.
Those that do transit to safety are usually the bigger corners. You really can’t have a 5’9”-5’11” safety. 6’ is the minimum.
Speaking of the Giants and bigger corners ...
When they lost the Super Bowl to the Ravens in 2001, they may have had the biggest group of starting defensive backs I've ever seen in the NFL:
CB - Jason Sehorn (6-2, 213)
CB - Dave Thomas (6-3, 213)
SS - Sam Garnes (6-3, 225)
FS - Shaun Williams (6-2, 218)
When your smallest starting defensive back is 6'2" tall and weighs 210+ pounds, you've got a daunting secondary!
I don't agree with either of these, but Brady's definitely got the better argument of the two.
Charles Woodson isn't even the best defensive back in NFL history with the last name "Woodson." Check out the impressive career of DB Rod Woodson, who holds a better claim to that title.
Agreed. I did say arguably though...
Charles Woodson, Rod Woodson, Darelle Revis, Ed Reed, Ronnie Lott, Mike Haynes, Darrell Green, Deon Sanders, Richard Sherman, Champ Bailey, Lester Hayes, Rodney Harrison, Steve Atwater, Adrian Wilson ... Those are the names I most recall. Being in my late 40s, they span late 70s to current.
Remarkable story. Signed by Kansas City as an undrafted free agent punter in 1981, then cut in training camp. He was a great athlete who had played defensive back in college, so they brought him back later in the season when injuries left them shorthanded. He turned out to be arguably the best free safety of his era -- five-time All-Pro, NFL All-Decade team, and anchored the group that I always considered the best defensive backfield in the NFL those days, with cornerbacks Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross, and strong safety Lloyd Burruss.
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