Featured Legend—Rod Woodson
Name: Rod Woodson
Date of Birth: March 10, 1965
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Resides: Pleasanton, Calif.
College: Purdue
Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson was born March 10, 1965 in Fort Wayne, Ind. Growing up, Woodson was active in many sports, especially during his time at R. Nelson Snider High School. During his junior and senior years, he was All-State in football, won the high and low hurdles state championships and played varsity basketball.
After graduating high school in 1983, Woodson received a full football scholarship to Purdue University. As a defensive back, he was named All-American in 1985 and 1986 and selected as All-Big Ten three times. He even found time to continue his passion for track and was able to qualify for the Olympic Trials in 1984.
In the 1987 NFL draft, the Indiana native was drafted 10th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent 10 seasons with the Steelers, where he was elected to the Pro Bowl seven times and in 1993 was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
For the 1997 season, Woodson suited up for the San Francisco 49ers before moving on to the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. While a Raven, Woodson accumulated three more Pro Bowl elections and picked up his first Super Bowl ring in 2001. Following his Super Bowl XXXV Championship season, he completed his career with two seasons as an Oakland Raider. His final Pro Bowl honor came in 2002.
With his NFL records for career interception yards (1,483), and interceptions returned for touchdowns (12), and being member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team in 1994, it was only time before Woodson would become a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In August 2009, with his family looking on, the Woodson was inducted into the Hall of Fame following a ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
Shortly before the Hall of Fame ceremony in 2009, Woodson signed on to The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer and took his first PSA blood test. Like other African-American man, Woodson has an increased risk of prostate cancer. He encourages all African American men age 40 and over to visit their doctor to talk about their prostate health.
Currently residing in Pleasanton, Calif., with his wife Nikki and their five children, Woodson is an analyst for the NFL Network.
Rod Woodson's Story
Speed, awareness perfect combo for Hall of Famer Woodson
At 45 years of age and just six years removed from his superb career in the NFL, Rod Woodson wouldn't seem like an obvious candidate to get tested for prostate cancer. Then again, very little that Woodson has done in his life has been routine.
After all, he was a high school All-American playing offense and defense in Fort Wayne, Ind., and one of the Big Ten's best players at Purdue before becoming a first-round draft choice in 1987 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a Boilermaker, Woodson was a dangerous defensive back, runner, receiver and kick returner.
Woodson was even better in the pros—a perennial All-Pro defensive back, standout special teams player and outstanding leader through a 17-year career that made him a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame selection this year.
So when Woodson learned the frequency by which African-American men suffer from prostate cancer, he wasn't thinking about any of those laurels. He was thinking about doing the smart thing.
"Once men hear it and realize it's not that difficult to get tested, just a simple procedure, they will be more willing to do it," Woodson says. "As men, we think we are like Supermen and nothing can really hurt us, and that is the farthest from the truth. We need to make smart decisions with our health."
Which is a main reason Woodson has become a spokesman for The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer.
"People across this country and throughout the world look up to athletes, and I'm not sure I completely agree with it," he says. "But it does give you a platform to speak about health issues and other issues we as individuals want to speak out about."
"I don't know if being in the Hall of Fame increases that, but it will help my voice as I get older and do want to speak out about prostate cancer or other issues."
Woodson's achievements in the NFL made him an obvious choice for induction in 2009. Not that it would have mattered had he waited a while longer before being elected to the Canton shrine.
"It means a lot to me," he says of the first-year selection. "But if you look at all the Hall of Famers, there is no asterisk next to any of their names because it took them 10 years to get in or they got in as a senior committee member. Nor should there be. It doesn't mean anything if you get in first or second or in the 10th or 20th year. You are a Hall of Famer."
"My journey was to get in during my first year of eligibility. The voters, I guess, understood I was one of the best at what I did, and I was consistent, and it makes you feel good when people say you don't need to wait."
But Woodson cautions men not to wait when it comes to prostate cancer testing.
"Ignorance can sometimes get you killed," he says. "Prior to working with Depend®, I really didn't know prostate cancer is so prevalent among African-American men. It is alarming. And we need to be smart about getting tested."
- Question 1: Why did you decide to work with Depend® and ZERO on The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer?
I got a phone call about being a spokesperson with Depend® and ZERO and I didn't know much about it. Once I told my wife that I was thinking about it, she researched it and came back to me with information that was alarming: African-American men are twice as likely to have traces of prostate cancer in their system through their lifetime. That made me want to talk to my doctor. He said African-American men should get tested earlier than everyone else.
It made me want to get more involved. I was 44 years old [at the time]. I was sharing my story with a person who works at the Hall of Fame and he said that Mike Haynes, one of the greatest cornerbacks ever and a Hall of Famer, was tested at 44 and had elevated levels for prostate cancer, and it woke me up. I immediately said, "I have to go get tested."
- Question 2: What advice would you give a guy as he prepares to speak with his doctor about his prostate health?
This is not hard. I got the test done in three minutes. I went in, they drew blood and that was it.
If it comes back with a high level of PSA, then they will do further tests, but the initial test is painless and harmless. And prostate cancer is treatable and beatable. I have five kids and want to see them grow up, and be able to spend time with my grandkids.
- Question 3: You were known for your versatility as a player. How has that helped you in life, as well?
There's the old saying in work and sports: The more you can do, the longer they will keep you around. In pro football, not everyone can do multiple things, normally it will be specialties for guys. But you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone at times, in football and in life, and in doing that you become more versatile in your game and in life. I took the challenge head on and most people who do can be versatile in their field.
Chuck Noll would always tell us, "You got to get on with your life's work." At first I didn't understand what he was saying. Now I understand he was saying, "If you could play pro sports, how long are you going to play?" Chances are not very long. And even if you play 10 years and are 32 and retired, what will you do with the other 50-odd years of your life. So find something!
Ask a Legend—Rod Woodson
