Charles Woodson life and biography

Charles Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL .

• Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press last season, becoming only the second Packer to win the award (DE Reggie White, 1998) and the oldest defensive back to earn the honor.
• Earned his sixth Pro Bowl bid in ’09 by posting career-high nine interceptions, and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors three times. Became first defensive player in the NFL to win a monthly award three times in the same season.
• Holds the franchise record with eight defensive TDs (seven INTs, one fumble return), eclipsing CB Herb Adderley and S Darren Sharper (seven each) for the team mark.
• Has posted seven or more interceptions in three of his four seasons with the Packers, joining CB Bobby Dillon as the only players in franchise annals to intercept seven-plus passes in a season three times.
• Was voted the 1997 Heisman Trophy recipient, becoming the first predominantly defensive player to win the award given annually to the top collegiate player. He is the sixth Heisman Trophy winner to play for the Packers, joining a group that includes Paul Hornung, Ty Detmer and another former University of Michigan standout, Desmond Howard.
• His big-game experience includes one Super Bowl (XXXVII vs. Tampa Bay), three conference championship games, six other NFL playoff contests, three collegiate bowl games including the 1998 Rose Bowl (vs. Washington State) for the co-national championship and three matchups with collegiate archrival Ohio State.
• Made a $2 million donation to the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital, which was announced on Thanksgiving Day in 2009.

PRO CAREER:
Perennial Pro Bowl cornerback turned in what even he called the best season of his 12-year career, earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors from The Associated Press... Became only the second Packer to win the award (DE Reggie White, 1998) and the oldest defensive back to win the honor... Earned first-team All-Pro honors from every major media outlet, and also was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month honor three times in the same season... Became first defensive player in the NFL to win a monthly award three times in the same season... Utilized by new defensive coordinator Dom Capers in a variety of positions in the defensive backfield in ’09, posted a career-high nine interceptions, which tied for the league lead, as well as a career-high 81 tackles... Also tied for the NFL lead with a career-high three INT returns for scores, which also matched S Nick Collins and CB Herb Adderley for the single-season team mark... Now holds the franchise record with eight defensive TDs (seven INTs, one fumble return), eclipsing Adderley and S Darren Sharper... Is tied with Adderley for first in team history with seven INTs for TDs... Joined CB Bobby Dillon (1953-57) as the only players in team history to intercept seven-plus passes three times in his career... Is the only player in Packers history to score on an interception in four straight seasons...Since signing with the Packers as their prized unrestricted free agent in 2006, has posted 28 interceptions, more than half of his career total of 45... Is the only player in league history (since 1982) to post seven INTs and two sacks in back-to-back seasons (2008-09)... Earned second-team All-Pro honors and his fifth career Pro Bowl bid in 2008 – his first since four straight Pro Bowl seasons to begin his career (1998-2001) with Oakland... His first season in Green Bay was his best statistically to that point, setting career highs with eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed in ’06... Followed that up with four interceptions and two touchdowns (one on a fumble return) in ’07, earning Pro Bowl alternate status, and then tied for the NFC lead with teammate Collins by picking off seven passes (returning two for scores) and tallying a career-high three sacks in ’08, despite playing most of it with a broken toe... With 169 INT return yards in ’08, joined Collins to form the second tandem in franchise history to each post 165-plus interception return yards in a season (John Symank/Dillon, 1957)...Combines with veteran CB Al Harris to give Green Bay a pair of elite cover men and is quick to credit Harris’ shutdown abilities for the playmaking opportunities that have come his way with the Packers.

2009 : Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by AP, becoming only the second Packer to ever win the award (White, 1998)... Became the oldest DB to earn the honor and the first CB since Deion Sanders in 1994 to win the award... Also won NFL Defensive Player of the Year from Sporting News... Named first-team All-Pro by AP, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated... Voted as top DB in the league by NFL Alumni... Selected to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in his career, and was named a starter for the second straight season... Named 2009 NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee of 101, a national committee of 101 sportswriters and sportscasters who cover the NFL... Started all 16 games at LCB, plus the playoff contest, and led the team with a career-high nine INTs, which tied for the NFL lead... Tied for the NFL lead with a career-high three INT returns for TDs... His 179 INT return yards were also a career high and ranked third in the NFL... Led the team with four forced fumbles to match his career high... Also posted two sacks, which was tied for second in the league among DBs... Led the secondary with a career-high 81 tackles (63 solo) and was second on the team with 21 passes defensed... Became only the fourth player in NFL history (since 1982) to post nine INTs and two sacks in the same season... Named NFC Defensive Player of the Month three times (Sept., Nov., Dec./Jan.), the first player on that side of the ball to earn the monthly award three time in the same season.

2008: Named Pro Bowl starter, earning his first trip to Hawaii since 2001 and fifth of his career (DNP – toe)...Also named second-team All-Pro by AP and All-NFC by Pro Football Weekly/PFWA...Started all 16 games, 13 at LCB and three at SS despite playing most of the season with a fractured toe sustained in season opener, an injury that kept him off the practice field entirely for several weeks...Tied with teammate Collins for NFC lead with seven INTs, the second-highest total in a season during his career...Tied for second in the NFL in INTs, trailing only Baltimore S Ed Reed (9)...Tied for second in the league with two INTs for TD and set a (then) career high with 169 INT return yards, joining Collins to become only the second tandem in franchise history to each post 165-plus INT return yards in a season (Symank/Dillon, ’57)...Along with Collins and Williams, became first Packers trio to each post five INTs in a season since ’96 (Robinson, Butler, Evans)... Registered 79 tackles, which matched his (then) career high, and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery...Led team with 20 passes defensed...Led secondary with a career-high three sacks.

2007: Started 14 of 16 games and was named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl... Missed one game due to a toe injury and another to rest up for the playoffs, when he started both contests... Posted 64 tackles (54 solo) with four INTs among 10 passes defensed, plus a fumble recovery... Returned one INT and one fumble for scores, the Packers’ only defensive TDs on the season... Also had a team-high 33 punt returns for 268 yards (8.1 avg.)... Was named to the 2007 All-Interview team by NFL.com’s Vic Carucci... Vs. Washington (Oct. 14): Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and was voted ‘GMC Defensive Player of the Week;’ recorded five tackles (four solo), with an INT and a fumble return for a TD. In the second quarter, intercepted a pass that deflected off the hands of WR Santana Moss, wrestling the ball away from WR Antwaan Randle El. In the third quarter, DT Corey Williams stripped Moss on an end-around play; Woodson picked up the fumble and ran for a 57-yard, game-winning TD in 17-14 triumph.

2006: Experienced what some might call a rebirth of his career, coming to Green Bay as an unrestricted free agent and producing statistically his best season to that point... Despite battling a painful shoulder injury much of the season, started all 16 contests at LCB and led the team in both INTs (eight) and passes defensed (26), each a career best that topped his previous highs of five INTs and 21 passes defensed as a rookie in 1998 with Oakland... His 26 passes broken up were the third-most ever recorded by a Packers player, behind Harris (28 in 2004) and Evans (27 in 1995)... The eight INTs tied for first in the NFC and tied for third in the league, yet he was snubbed in Pro Bowl voting.

2005: Started the Raiders’ first six games of the year before suffering a broken leg that sidelined him for the balance of the season... Was inactive for the subsequent nine contests before Oakland placed him on injured reserve Dec. 29... Finished with 31 tackles (27 solo), one INT among four passes defensed, one forced fumble and three punt returns for 20 yards... Vs. Kansas City (Sept. 18): Opened at FS, his only start of the season not at CB, and had a season-high two passes defensed plus a forced fumble by Parker near midfield with five minutes left, positioning Oakland for a potential go-ahead TD... Vs. Dallas (Oct. 2): Had a second-quarter INT of QB Drew Bledsoe, plus five tackles... Vs. Buffalo (Oct. 23): Fractured his right lower leg late in the second quarter when he tackled RB Willis McGahee at the end of a 4-yard run.

2004: Played in Oakland’s first 13 games, starting 12, before being inactive for the final three contests due to a right knee injury... Had a (then) career-high 2½ sacks among 74 total tackles (59 solo)... Also broke up nine passes, including one INT, forced a pair of fumbles, recovered another fumble and returned one punt for 4 yards... Vs. Buffalo (Sept. 19): Sacked Bledsoe for the first of two early-season sacks... Vs. Tampa Bay (Sept. 26): Got a sack for the second straight week, this one against QB Brad Johnson, forcing a fumble in the process... At Houston (Oct. 3): Had a season-high four passes defensed, along with 10 tackles to lead all defenders... At Carolina (Nov. 7): Played in a reserve capacity due to a hip problem... At Denver (Nov. 28): Recovered a RB Reuben Droughns fumble on the opening possession of the second half that led to a quick Raiders TD in a 25-24 triumph... Vs. Kansas City (Dec. 5): Made a career-best (and game-high) 13 tackles, including 12 solo. Also intercepted QB Trent Green inside Oakland territory in the second quarter to set up a Raiders TD.

2003: Started the Raiders’ first 15 games at CB, staying healthy throughout the year... Recorded 70 tackles (56 solo), including one sack and one forced fumble... Also made three INTs among eight passes defensed and recovered one fumble... Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 14): Ended Bengals’ final threat with INT of Kitna in 23-20 victory... At Chicago (Oct. 5): Contributed two second-quarter turnovers leading to a pair of Raiders FGs, recovering a fumble by TE Desmond Clark and returning an INT of QB Kordell Stewart 51 yards in final minute of first half. Later picked off Stewart on the Bears’ initial drive of the second half, giving him his first two-INT game as a professional... At Cleveland (Oct. 12): Forced a RB William Green fumble on the game’s opening possession, leading to a TD which ended up being the Raiders’ only points of the afternoon... Vs. N.Y. Jets (Nov. 9): Posted season-best eight tackles... Vs. Denver (Nov. 30): Matched that tackle total and added a sack of QB Jake Plummer... At San Diego (Dec. 28): Was a healthy inactive.

2002: Saw his season interrupted by injury for the first time as a professional, playing eight regular-season games with seven starts... Was inactive for the other eight league contests due to shoulder and leg injuries... Started all three of Oakland’s postseason games, including Super Bowl XXXVII... Had a team- and career-high four forced fumbles... Also made one INT among four passes defensed, recovered one fumble and posted 37 tackles... Vs. Seattle (Sept. 8): Matched career best with two forced fumbles (also Dec. 16, 2000, at Seattle) among a team-high eight tackles in season-opening victory... At Pittsburgh (Sept. 15): Had a hand in a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers – forcing a WR Hines Ward fumble and intercepting Stewart – in 30-17 win... Vs. San Francisco (Nov. 3): Returned to starting lineup after missing five games with a right shoulder injury and made eight stops, recovering an early RB Garrison Hearst fumble... At Denver (Nov. 11): Had season-best nine tackles in 34-10, Monday night triumph... Vs. N.Y. Jets (AFC Divisional, Jan. 12): Returned to start after right leg injury left him inactive for three of final four regular-season games (playing as first-half sub in the other). Tied for team high with three passes defensed and had six tackles... Vs. Tennessee (AFC Championship, Jan. 19): Shared club lead with eight tackles... Vs. Tampa Bay (Super Bowl XXXVII, Jan. 26): Had eight tackles and intercepted Johnson on third play, leading to a FG that gave Oakland the first points in eventual 48-21 defeat.

COLLEGE:
Was a three-year starter and letterman (1995-97) at the University of Michigan... Became a starter beginning with the second game of his true freshman season, going on to play in 34 straight games for the Wolverines before turning pro after his junior year... Twice was named Chevrolet ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ and an All-America selection (1996-97)... Chosen All-Big Ten all three years of his career... Led the Wolverines in INTs for three straight seasons, finishing his collegiate career with 18... Totaled 30 passes broken up... A multi-faceted player, made spot contributions on offense as a receiver and on special teams as a return man with 44 career punt returns... Junior season (1997): Voted the Heisman Trophy recipient, becoming the first predominantly defensive player to win the award presented annually to the top collegiate player... Also named conference ‘Defensive Player of the Year’, finishing second in the nation in INTs with eight... A consensus All-American who was voted MVP of Michigan’s co-national championship squad... Also earned recognition as Walter Camp ‘Player of the Year,’ the ‘Jim Thorpe Award’ as the nation’s best DB, the ‘Bronko Nagurski Award’ as the top collegiate defensive player and Sporting News ‘Player of the Year’... Had 36 punt returns for 301 yards (8.4 avg.), including 78-yard TD in 20-14 triumph over No. 4 Ohio State (Nov. 22), upping the Wolverines’ mark to 11-0 en route to their perfect 12-0 season and being voted national champion by AP ... Sophomore season (1996): Posted a (then) school-record 15 passes broken up among five INTs, earning first of back-to-back Chevrolet ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ and All-America honors... Freshman season (1995): Picked off five passes and earned Big Ten ‘Freshman of the Year’ recognition, as well as first of three straight All-Big Ten selections.

PERSONAL:
Born Charles C. Woodson in Fremont, Ohio... Has an infant son, Charles Jr. ... High school: Was named Ohio’s ‘Mr. Football’ as a senior at Ross H.S. in Fremont, Ohio... Finished prep career with the school’s career records for rushing yards (3,861) and scoring (466 points), including 2,028 yards and 230 points his senior season, when he was a USA Today All-America selection... Accumulated 5,996 all-purpose yards over the course of his career... Also lettered twice in basketball as a guard as well as in track and field, participating as a sprinter, on the relay teams and in the long jump... Community involvement: Made a $2 million donation to the new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital, which was announced on Thanksgiving Day in 2009... Through several fundraisers, including a golf tournament that shares his name along with those of former teammates Griese and Steve Hutchinson, has helped raise money for the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital... In 2008, donated $150,000 for academic scholarships to the University of Michigan for students with financial needs studying kiniesology; with funds being matched by the Presidential Scholarship Challenge Program, the amount of endowed scholarships is $300,000 for students from communities where Woodson has ties – Fremont, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Oakland, Calif., and Green Bay. One of the scholarships will be in honor of Woodson’s mother, Georgia, and will go to students in Ohio coming from single-parent households... Has volunteered at a youth football camp held by his former Oakland teammate Zack Crockett, and has participated in events to benefit the Donald Driver Foundation as well as the Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Game... In May 2010, was honored with Professional Achievement Award at the 13th annual Lee Remmel Sports Awards Banquet...

As Hobbies/interests: Has an interest in the wine industry, recently leasing acres of vineyards in Napa Valley, Calif. ... Has some real-estate interests in Washington D.C., Mississippi and Georgia... Lists Deep Cover as his favorite movie and Forty Million Dollar Slaves as his favorite book... Enjoys bowling and reading in his spare time... Also has taken up piano lessons previously and plans to resume them... Splits residence between Orlando, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga.

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