Charles Woodson announced he is going to retire after the season ends. While many around the country might best remember him with the Oakland Raiders -- after all he played his first eight seasons there and the last three, including 2015 -- Woodson certainly will be remembered fondly by fans of the Green Bay Packers.
Woodson played in 100 of his 252 games at defensive back (second-most in NFL history) with the Packers from 2006-12. He was signed by Green Bay as a free agent. Coming off a season in which he suffered a broken leg and was about to turn 30, perhaps not much was expected from the former Heisman Trophy winner. But Woodson exceeded all expectations, and was even named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.
There's still a few games left in his career, but Woodson likely will finish fifth all-time in interceptions -- he has 65, tied with Ken Riley and three behind Dick "Night Train" Lane -- and one behind another Woodson -- Rod -- for most touchdowns off interceptions (he has 11, Rod Woodson 12).
In the long and illustrious history of the Packers, Woodson is tied for fifth all-time in interceptions.
Note that the most for any current Packers player is 18 by Sam Shields (in 79 games). Seven of those 10 touchdowns came with the score within seven points, either way. Here's the list of Woodson's TDs with Green Bay:
-- Oct. 22, 2006 at Miami: Down 10-6, Woodson picked off a Joey Harrington pass and ran it 23 yards for the score to give Green Bay a lead it would never relinquish. The Packers would win 34-24.
-- Oct. 14, 2007 vs. Washington: Trailing 14-10 late in the third quarter, Corey Williams forced a fumble on a Santana Moss end around. Woodson picked it up and returned it 57 yards for the touchdown. It was also the final score of the game as Green Bay won 17-14.
-- Nov. 4, 2007 at Kansas City: Green Bay held a 26-22 lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Chiefs were driving and in Packers territory when with 1:10 left in the game Woodson picked off a Damon Huard pass and went 46 yards for an insurance touchdown in a 33-22 win.
-- Sept. 14, 2008 at Detroit: The Packers were up by nine points late in the fourth quarter when Woodson intercepted a Jon Kitna pass and went 41 yards for the score. Just over a minute later, Nick Collins also had a pick-six as Green Bay won 48-25.
-- Sept. 20, 2009 vs. Cincinnati: With the game tied at 14 midway through the second quarter, Woodson picked off Carson Palmer for a 37-yard interception return for a TD. However, the Bengals would win this one 31-24.
-- Nov. 26, 2009 at Detroit: Woodson helped seal a 34-12 victory with his second interception of Matthew Stafford, taking this one 38 yards to the house with under four minutes remaining for the final score of the game.
-- Jan. 3, 2010 at Arizona: In a 33-7 blowout over the Cardinals, Woodson went 45 yards for a TD after picking off Matt Leinart late in the second quarter.
-- Oct. 3, 2010 vs. Detroit: Green Bay led 21-14 at the half and just 26 seconds into the third quarter, Woodson intercepted Shaun Hill and raced 48 yards for Green Bay's final points of the game -- and the Packers would need them as they hung on to win 28-26.
-- Oct. 2, 2011 vs. Denver: The Packers had just taken a 7-3 lead in the first quarter when just over a minute later Woodson scored on a 50-yard interception after a Kyle Orton errant pass. Green Bay went on to win 49-23.
Woodson does hold one Packers record and that is most touchdowns off interceptions. In fact, he is the only player to have TD off an interception in six straight seasons, which he did with Green Bay from 2006-11.
Woodson actually had 10 defensive touchdowns for the Packers -- he also returned a fumble for a score.
In a franchise as storied as the Packers, it is difficult to consider who is the "best ever" at a position. But consider this: Green Bay has just one cornerback in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- Herb Adderley. Woodson no doubt will join him one day and make it two. They played in different eras, obviously, so it is hard to compare. But calling Woodson one of the best to play the position for Green Bay is no stretch. And if you want to say he's the best ever, you might not get many arguments there, either.
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