Rod Woodson's Story
At 44 years of age and just five 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. 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."
