Tag: Charles Woodson

Former Packers DB Charles Woodson becomes first-ballot Hall of Famer

Former Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson is headed to Canton to be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Woodson, who played seven years with the Packers, was voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and will join the induction class of 2021.

Woodson joined the Packers in 2006. Over 100 regular-season games in Green Bay, Woodson delivered 38 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, 11.5 sacks and 10 defensive touchdowns. He led the league in interceptions twice (2009, 2011) and scored at least one touchdown in each of his seven seasons with the Packers.

Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2010. He made four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro teams while in Green Bay.

Between 2006 and 2012, Woodson ranked first in the NFL in interception return yards, third in interceptions and fourth in pass breakups.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has said, on multiple occasions, that he believes Woodson is the finest player he’s ever played with.

Woodson finished his 18-year NFL career with 65 interceptions, 183 pass breakups, 33 forced fumbles, 18 fumble recoveries, 20 sacks and 13 defensive touchdowns. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

Woodson’s full bio at the Hall of Fame’s official site:

Made immediate impact for Raiders after being drafted fourth overall in 1998, earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl berth … Intercepted at least one pass in each of his 18 seasons (one year shy of Darrell Green’s NFL-record 19) … Totaled 65 career interceptions, tied for fifth in League history … Fourth in NFL history for passes defensed with 183 … Twice led NFL in interceptions (nine in 2009; seven in 2011) … In 2014, became first player in NFL history with 50 career interceptions and 20 sacks … Forced 33 fumbles and recovered 18 … AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 … Member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s … First-Team All-Pro three times … Elected to nine Pro Bowls … Appeared in Super Bowl XXXVII with Oakland, contributing five tackles and an interception in 48-21 loss to Tampa Bay … Contributed two tackles in 31-25 Green Bay victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV … Co-holder of NFL record with 13 career defensive touchdowns … One of only two players (with Hall of Famer Marcus Allen) to win Heisman Trophy, AP Rookie of the Year, AP Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title in his career.

Woodson will be officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Canton on Aug. 8.

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NFL Honors 2021: Pro Football Hall of Fame predictions

Today is Selection Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Peyton Manning and others are waiting to hear the call. Who gets in?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce their next class of honorees prior to Super Bowl LV. The 48-member Pro Football hall of Fame Selection Committee will meet on Saturday to decide among the 18 finalists, which include 15 modern-era players and three additional finalists: Drew Pearson (senior finalist), Bill Nunn (contributor finalist) and Tom Flores (Coach finalist).

The by-laws of the Selection Committee provide that “between four an eight new members will be selected.” Here are Touchdown Wire’s 2021 Pro Football Hall of  Fame predictions.

LeRoy Butler, Charles Woodson among 15 Hall of Fame finalists

Butler and Woodson are both among the 15 modern-era finalists for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

A pair of former Green Bay Packers defensive backs are among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2021.

LeRoy Butler and Charles Woodson were both named finalists on Tuesday.

Butler and Woodson join Jared Allen, Ronde Barber, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Torry Holt, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Clay Matthews Jr., Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Zach Thomas and Reggie Wayne as the 15 modern-era finalists.

Butler, now in his 15th season of eligibility, is a finalist for the second straight year. Woodson is a first-time finalist in his first year of eligibility.

Up to five players from the 15 finalists will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Players need 80 percent of the vote to be inducted.

Butler played for the Packers from 1990 to 2001. Woodson played for the Packers from 2006 to 2012.

The Hall of Fame’s profile on Butler:

One of the most prolific defensive backs in the Packers’ storied history and among premier safeties of his era … Led the team in interceptions five times … Key member of defense that guided team’s resurgence that included seven playoff appearances in nine-season span … Helped lead Packers to three straight division titles (1995-97) and two Super Bowl appearances … Started at strong safety in three consecutive NFC Championship Games and Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII … Had seven tackles and one sack in Packers’ 35-21 victory over New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI …  Intercepted a pass in every season but his last … Career stats: 38 interceptions for 533 yards … Only pick-six came on 90-yard return versus San Diego Chargers, Sept. 15, 1996 … Registered 20.5 career sacks and one fumble recovery for a TD … Selected to four Pro Bowls … All-Pro four times (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.

The Hall of Fame’s profile for Woodson:

Made immediate impact for Raiders after being drafted fourth overall in 1998, earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl berth … Intercepted at least one pass in each of his 18 seasons (one year shy of Darrell Green’s NFL-record 19) … Totaled 65 career interceptions, tied for fifth in League history … Fourth in NFL history for passes defensed with 183 … Twice led NFL in interceptions (nine in 2009; seven in 2011) … In 2014, became first player in NFL history with 50 career interceptions and 20 sacks … Forced 33 fumbles and recovered 18 … AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 … Member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s … First-Team All-Pro three times … Elected to nine Pro Bowls … Appeared in Super Bowl XXXVII with Oakland, contributing five tackles and an interception in 48-21 loss to Tampa Bay … Contributed two tackles in 31-25 Green Bay victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV … Co-holder of NFL record with 13 career defensive touchdowns … One of only two players (with Hall of Famer Marcus Allen) to win Heisman Trophy, AP Rookie of the Year, AP Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title in his career.

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee will meet on January 19 to vote. The 2021 Hall of Fame class will be announced during the “NFL Honors” on the eve of Super Bowl LV.

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Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson top 2021 PFHOF finalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its finalists for the Class of 2021

The finalists for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame, Modern-Era Players, were announced on Tuesday.

The list is headed by first-timers Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson.

The 2021 Modern-Era Player Finalists with their positions, years and teams:

  • Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
  • Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tony Boselli, Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
  • LeRoy Butler, Safety – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
  • Alan Faneca, Guard – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
  • Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2007-2015 Detroit Lions
  • John Lynch, Safety – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
  • Peyton Manning, Quarterback – 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts (injured reserved 2011), 2012-15 Denver Broncos
  • Clay Matthews, Linebacker – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons
  • Sam Mills, Linebacker – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
  • Richard Seymour, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
  • Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
  • Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
  • Charles Woodson, Cornerback/Safety – 1998-2005, 2013-15 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2012 Green Bay Packers

YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for election, Modern-Era Players must have last played more than five seasons ago.

Year of Eligibility Finalist
1st Jared Allen, Calvin Johnson, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson
2nd Reggie Wayne
4th Ronde Barber, Richard Seymour
6th Alan Faneca
7th Torry Holt
8th Zach Thomas
9th John Lynch
15th Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler
19th Sam Mills
20th Clay Matthews Jr.

 

 

The best Heisman winner to go onto the pros? Look no further than Ann Arbor

USA TODAY Sports ranked the best Heisman Trophy winners according to their NFL careers. Turns out the only defensive winner was the best.

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It’s become a glorified quarterback competition, but it hasn’t been and isn’t always so.

With Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith the odds-on favorite to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy on Tuesday night, he would be the first wideout to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991, and the fourth non-quarterback to do so since 2000. The other three were all running backs.

But if you really want to talk about anomalies, there’s one that really stands out, and it’s one of Michigan’s three prized Heisman winners. Of course, we’re talking about defensive back Charles Woodson, the only primarily defensive player to ever win the award.

Our mothership at USA TODAY Sports put together a list of the most productive Heisman Trophy winners at the next level, and though Woodson’s 1997 award sparks its fair share of controversy—considering he beat out Tennessee luminary Peyton Manning for the distinction—it turns out that, of the past 25 Heisman winners, Woodson is the most accomplished.

The best player in college football who went on to have the best career in pro football.

1. Charles Woodson

Year: 1997 (Michigan)

NFL accolades: 1998 defensive rookie of the year, 2009 defensive player of the year, 2000s all-decade team, 9-time Pro Bowler

A semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2021, Woodson can become the 10th Heisman winner to be enshrined in Canton. Woodson’s 65 career interceptions is tied for fifth all-time, and he’s tied for second for most career pick-sixes (11, just one behind Rod Woodson’s 12). During the 2010 season, Woodson was a vital cog for the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl XLV championship team. Woodson’s fellow 2021 Hall semifinalist – Peyton Manning – was the runner-up in the 1997 Heisman voting; current Hall of Famer Randy Moss finished fourth.

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Considering some of the other winners of the past 25 years, it’s quite the accomplishment. But the award has also proven that just because you’re a star on the college level, it doesn’t mean that you have what it takes to make it in the NFL.

However, Woodson could do it all on the field, so it’s no surprise he was able to do it at any level.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan Enemy Territory preview. Get to know the Wolverines

Ohio State hosts Michigan this Saturday and the Wolverines are having a tough year. Here’s all you need to know about That Team Up North.

Before every game, we provide a preview of Ohio State football’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s only originally an eight-game slate to the regular season, but we’ve seen the coronavirus wreak havoc on that as well, so the best OSU can do is six-games. Still, there’s plenty to talk about, especially since The Game is on the doorstep.

We try to refrain from typing the name of that team that shall not be mentioned, but it’s an article and our journalistic integrity says we have to type it from time to time. Nevertheless, we toss all of that aside and can at least cross out all the m‘s in this piece.

So, if you want to impress your friends while watching The Game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.

Ohio State’s sixth (we hope) game of the year is against a That Team Up North, a team that looked pretty impressive in a blowout win over Minnesota in Week 1, but since then has remembered it is indeed the Michigan program of today.

Here’s all you need to know about Michigan, the sad but true 2020 version.

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Next … Michigan all-time vitals

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Ohio State vs. Michigan Enemy Territory preview. Get to know the Wolverines

Ohio State hosts Michigan this Saturday and the Wolverines are having a tough year. Here’s all you need to know about That Team Up North.

Before every game, we provide a preview of Ohio State football’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s only originally an eight-game slate to the regular season, but we’ve seen the coronavirus wreak havoc on that as well, so the best OSU can do is six-games. Still, there’s plenty to talk about, especially since The Game is on the doorstep.

We try to refrain from typing the name of that team that shall not be mentioned, but it’s an article and our journalistic integrity says we have to type it from time to time. Nevertheless, we toss all of that aside and can at least cross out all the m‘s in this piece.

So, if you want to impress your friends while watching The Game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.

Ohio State’s sixth (we hope) game of the year is against a That Team Up North, a team that looked pretty impressive in a blowout win over Minnesota in Week 1, but since then has remembered it is indeed the Michigan program of today.

Here’s all you need to know about Michigan, the sad but true 2020 version.

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Next … Michigan all-time vitals

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers states Hall of Fame case for Charles Woodson, LeRoy Butler

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wants both Charles Woodson and LeRoy Butler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the 2021 class.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes both Charles Woodson and LeRoy Butler should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class.

Woodson and Butler, two long-time defensive backs for the Packers, are among the 25 semi-finalists in 2021.

Asked about the pair on Wednesday, Rodgers stated a strong case for each, starting with Woodson, who played seven years with Rodgers in Green Bay and helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV.

“I think he’s the most talented guy I’ve ever played with,” Rodgers said. “His ability to impact the game was unbelievable. And he, for sure, made me a better player going against him every day in practice. The most savvy defensive player that I’ve ever seen on the field. Incredible ability to diagnose routes in real-time. Fantastic at his disguise. He’s a guy who had over 50 interceptions, over 20 sacks. Did it all. From Heisman to Rookie of the Year to NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won a championship, was a huge part of what we did in 2010 and became a fantastic leader in the locker room. He had five interceptions in his rookie season and five in his 18th year. That is unbelievable, unbelievable. A good friend, but just a fantastic player.”

Rodgers has previously stated that Woodson was the greatest defensive player he’s ever faced.

A two-time All-Pro while with the Packers from 2006 to 2012, Woodson produced 38 interceptions, 10 defensive touchdowns, 15 forced fumbles and 11.5 sacks while playing 100 games over seven seasons in Green Bay.

He retired after the 2015 season with 65 interceptions, 13 defensive touchdowns, 33 forced fumbles, 18 fumble recoveries, 20 sacks and 54 tackles for losses. He made nine Pro Bowl teams and was a three-time first-team All-Pro.

There’s a good chance Woodson will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in this year’s class.

Butler, another versatile and dominant defensive back, has patiently waited his turn.

And Rodgers believes now is the time to get him to Canton.

“I was a big fan of his. I do believe he’s a Hall of Famer,” Rodgers said. “I talked about in some interviews on Tuesday on what I thought was the standard to get in, and I think it’s being in the top three to five at your position for an extended period of time. And LeRoy was. Which was evidenced by being a first-team All-Decade selection of the 90s. The 90s was a great time for the NFL. I think it was a time when the NFL popularity took off…A lot of great players during that time. And I believe 21 of the 22 players from that first-team All-Decade from the 90s are in the Hall of Fame. And the one missing is 36 for the Packers. This is the year he deserves to get in. It’d be awesome for him to get in with Charles. Looking at some stats, over 35 interceptions and over 15 sacks, which hadn’t been done by any player in his era. The numbers speak for themselves. It’d be great to see him get in.”

As Rodgers mentioned, Butler is the only member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade First Team not in the Hall of Fame. A four-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro, Butler not only won Super Bowl XXXI and helped invent the Lambeau Leap, but he also became the first defensive back ever with 20 career sacks and 20 career interceptions.

Butler, who finished his career with 20.5 sacks and 38 interceptions, has been a semi-finalist four times and was a first-time finalist last year.

The next step of the selection process is narrowing down the list from 25 semi-finalists to 15 finalists. The players eventually selected will be enshrined on Aug. 8, 2021, in Canton.

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Former Packers DBs LeRoy Butler, Charles Woodson are HOF semi-finalists

The Packers have two semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Two former defensive backs for the Green Bay Packers are among the 25 semi-finalists for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Hall of Fame announced the semi-finalists on Tuesday.

Woodson is a semi-finalist for the first time. Butler has been a semi-finalist every year for the last four years.

Woodson played 18 seasons in the NFL, including seven in Green Bay. As a member of the Packers, Woodson played in 100 games intercepted 38 passes, forced 15 fumbles, tallied 11.5 sacks and scored 10 defensive touchdowns. He was a member of the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV winning team.

Butler was a first-time finalist last year. The creator of the Lambeau Leap, Butler finished his decorated NFL career with 38 interceptions, 20.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles over 12 seasons, all spent with the Packers. He played in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season. The AP named him a first-team All-Pro in 1993,  1996, 1997 and 1998.

The next step of the process is to trim the list to 15 finalists.

The 2021 Hall of Fame class will be enshrined on Aug. 8, 2021, in Canton, Ohio.

Peyton Manning tops Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists

Peyton Manning tops the first-year semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

The list of semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was released on Tuesday. Peyton Manning will certainly get in as a member of the Class of 2021. The other three first-year semifinalists are Jared Allen, Calvin Johnson, and Charles Woodson.

Expect Johnson and Woodson to easily become Hall of Famers along with Manning.

The complete list:

CLASS OF 2021 MODERN-ERA PLAYER SEMIFINALISTS

The following is the list of 2021 Modern-Era Semifinalists, including their positions, years and teams. Also listed are the number of times and years the candidate has been named a semifinalist since this reduction vote was added to the Bylaws for the Selection Committee in 2004.

  • Eric Allen, CB – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021)
  • Cornelius Bennett, LB – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2016-2021)
  • LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021)
  • Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 – 2016-2021)
  • Rodney Harrison, S – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 – 2015-2021)
  • Calvin Johnson, WR – 2007-2015 Detroit Lions | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 9 – 2013-2021)
  • Peyton Manning, QB – 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts (injured reserved 2011), 2012-15 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2012, 2017, 2019-2021)
  • Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2016, 2019-2021)
  • Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021)
  • Steve Tasker, ST/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 – 2004, 2008-2010, 2012-13, 2020-21)
  • Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21)
  • Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 – 2019-2021)
  • Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2017-2021)
  • Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21)
  • Patrick Willis, LB – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21)
  • Charles Woodson, CB/S – 1998-2005, 2013-15 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2012 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 – 2021)
  • Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2021)
  • Bryant Young, DT – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21)