Darren Woodson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Woodson’s journey began in Maryvale, where he earned All-City honors scoring six touchdowns in a single game as a senior. At Arizona State, he initially lacked scholarship eligibility but built a reputation as a "ferocious hitter with a keen eye for football" under coach Lovie Smith. By 1989, his sophomore year, he led the Sun Devils with 122 total tackles and 5 for loss, earning team MVP honors. A three-year starter at outside linebacker, Woodson earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 nods in 1989 and 1990, an honorable mention All-America selection as a junior, and a second-team All-Pac-10 spot as a senior captain in 1991. He concluded his college career with 803 tackles before being invited to the Blue–Gray Football Classic. Inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in April 2009, his collegiate legacy is defined by his transformation from a walk-on linebacker to an NFL safety.

In Their Own Story

In 1993, Woodson faced a defining test when he broke his right forearm during a preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Expected to miss two months, he made the decision to play with the injury before it fully healed. Head coach Jimmy Johnson named him the new starting strong safety after he started the final two games in place of James Washington. That season, Woodson recorded 102 combined tackles and set a franchise record for second-most tackles in a game (18) during a victory against the New York Giants. His resilience paid off as the Cowboys secured their second consecutive Super Bowl title. In Super Bowl XXVIII against Buffalo, he started and made three combined tackles. Later, in 1994, he recorded his first career regular-season interception against Bucky Richardson and returned an interception for a touchdown against Philadelphia. By 1995, he had earned his first Pro Bowl selection after recording 94 tackles, two interceptions, and another return touchdown.

Reader's Guide

Fans of the Woodson era should note his specific positional evolution and key performance markers. Drafted as a linebacker prospect who ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, defensive backs coach Dave Campo saw him as a "safety in waiting" and moved him to safety drills immediately. In 1992, he finished as a backup strong safety behind Thomas Everett but led the team with 19 special teams tackles. By 1994, under new head coach Barry Switzer, Woodson became the full-time starter alongside free safety James Washington, recording a career-high five interceptions and two forced fumbles while starting all 16 games. On February 15, 1996, he signed a six-year, $18 million contract with a $5.40 million signing bonus. Throughout his tenure, he started alongside cornerbacks Larry Brown, Kevin Smith, and Deion Sanders, forming one of the most formidable secondaries in NFL history.

Did You Know?

• Woodson walked on at Arizona State University because he initially failed to meet NCAA academic qualifications for a scholarship.
• He scored six touchdowns in a single high school game while playing running back and linebacker at Maryvale High School.
• In the 1993 season, Woodson played with a broken right forearm that had not fully healed, starting two games before being named the permanent starter.
• During his rookie year (1992), he led the Dallas Cowboys in special teams tackles with 19.
• Woodson was selected by the Cowboys using one of the draft picks acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in the Herschel Walker trade.