Darren Ray Woodson (born April 25, 1969 in Phoenix, Arizona) was an All-Pro strong safety for the Dallas Cowboys (1992-2004). He was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft (37th overall) out of Arizona State University. Woodson was a 5-time Pro Bowl selection who had a feared reputation as an effective run-stopper and a ferocious hitter. He sat out the 2004 NFL season due to a herniated disc, and finally announced his retirement in December 2004.

At a time when some of his teammates had problems with the law, he was a classy player both on and off the field. As the final active player who had been on all three Cowboys Super Bowl teams of the 90s, Woodson was respected as the leader of the locker room and a mentor to Roy Williams.

On December 31, 2005, ESPN reported that Cowboys coach Bill Parcells contacted Woodson and told him to be ready to play in the depleted Dallas secondary if the Cowboys make the NFL Playoffs.

External links

• Woodson announces retirement (espn.com)
• Cowboys call Woodson about possible playoff return

1969 births | Living people | Dallas Cowboys players | American football safeties | People from Arizona | Arizona State Sun Devils football players | NFC Pro Bowl players