Early years

Woodson is the youngest of three siblings, with whom he had close relationships. His father, the late James Woodson, was African-American, and his mother, Linda Jo, is white; they were married providing a stable home for Joe, Jamie and Rod . Woodson attended R. Nelson Snider High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He played defensive back and a variety of offensive skill positions and was all-state his junior and senior seasons. in addition to football, he won both the high and low hurdles state championships in both his junior and senior seasons; and played varsity basketball his junior and senior seasons, making all conference his senior year.

College career

Woodson accepted a full scholarship to play football at Purdue University, in part because of a desire to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Woodson played primarily as a defensive back and kick returner, but also saw time on offense as a running back and wide receiver. He was named an All-American defensive back in 1985 and 1986, and was a three time All-Big Ten first team selection. In his final collegiate game, Woodson gained over 150 of combined rushing and receiving yards, in addition to making ten tackles and forcing a fumble, leading Purdue to a victory over arch-rival Indiana.

Woodson left Purdue with 13 individual records, notably tying the school record with eleven career interceptions. He currently is ranked in the top ten in career interceptions, solo tackles, total tackles, passes deflected, and kickoff return yardage as a Boilermaker.

In addition to his exploits on the gridiron, Woodson was also an accomplished track and field athlete at Purdue, and twice awarded All-America honors. He currently holds the school records in both the 60 and 110 meter hurdles, events in which he earned five Big Ten championships. In 1984, he qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 100 meter hurdles, but elected to continue his football career in the NFL after graduating from Purdue with a degree in criminal justice.

Woodson was inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Pro football career

In 1987, Woodson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 10th overall draft pick. He returned punts and played defensive cornerback for Pittsburgh through the 1996 season.On November 22, 1987 he was listed third on the depth chart in a game against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals played at Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium, Woodson was inserted into the secondary. In the final minute of the second quarter, he recorded his first career interception when he picked off a Boomer Esiason pass.

He was a fan favorite and a banner that hung for years in Three Rivers Stadium stated: “Rod Is God”. A highlight came in 1995 when Woodson became the first player to return from reconstructive knee surgery in the same season. That year he tore his ACL against the Detroit Lions in the first game and returned to play in the Super Bowl XXX between the Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys just 19 weeks later. In that game, he broke up a pass intended for Michael Irvin, hopped up and pointed at his reconstructed knee. In a game against the Houston Oilers, Woodson hit Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon on a cornerback blitz. The hit gave Moon a concussion and forced him to leave the game.

Woodson’s career took a somewhat nomadic turn after free agency from Pittsburgh, after the Rooney family elected not to renew his contract over a pay dispute as well as the salary cap. (The team had a similar dispute with Franco Harris in 1984 and later with Alan Faneca in 2008.) Although he remained to raise his family in Pittsburgh and later made amends with the Rooneys, he hopped between three additional franchises, becoming one of the few modern cornerbacks to successfully make a transition to the safety position, following in the footsteps of Ronnie Lott. Woodson signed with the San Francisco 49ers for the 1997 season, the Baltimore Ravens for the years 1998 to 2001 (where he won Super Bowl XXXV), and the Oakland Raiders for 2002 and 2003 (where he appeared in his third Super Bowl). In the Raiders 2002 Super Bowl season, 37-year old Woodson led the NFL in interceptions (8) for the first time in his career. His last interception came on November 16, 2003 against the Minnesota Vikings Daunte Culpepper.

NFL records and accomplishments

Woodson is among the NFL’s all time leaders in games played as a defensive back and interceptions. In his 17 NFL seasons, Woodson recorded 71 interceptions, 1,483 interception return yards, 32 fumble recoveries (15 offensive and 17 defensive), 137 fumble return yards, 4,894 kickoff return yards, 2,362 punt return yards, and 17 touchdowns (12 interception returns, 1 fumble return, 2 kickoff returns, 2 punt returns). He holds the league record for interceptions returned for touchdowns with 12, and is tied with 11 other players for the record for most fumble recoveries in a single game (3). His 1,483 interception return yards are also an NFL record. His 32 fumble recoveries are a record amongst defensive players. His 71 interceptions rank 3rd all time.

Woodson was named to the Pro Bowl eleven times, a record for a defensive back. He was also the first player to earn trips to the Pro Bowl at cornerback, safety and kick returner. He was named 1993’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He was also a 7 time All-Pro selection. Woodson finished second to Darrell Green in the 1988 NFL Fastest Man Contest.

In 1994, he was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team. What made it notable was that Woodson was one of only five active players to be named to the team. The others were Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Reggie White and Ronnie Lott. In 1999, he was ranked number 87 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. The College Football News has also honored him as one of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century.

In 2007, he was ranked number 22 on USA Today list of the 25 best NFL players of the past 25 years.

It is unlikely that the Steelers will remove Woodson’s number 26 from circulation, however, since the number is currently being worn by longtime cornerback Deshea Townsend, who as of the 2008 season has now played longer with the Steelers than Woodson did. (The team drafted Townsend in 1998 around the same time that Woodson signed with the archrival Ravens, and still had an acrimonious relationship with the Rooneys at the time.) Mel Blount’s number 47 has also conspicuously remained in circulation since his retirement after the 1983 season.

On January 31, 2009, Woodson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility becoming the 18th Steelers-related person to be enshrined. Woodson named his good friend and business associate Tracy Foster as his presenter. Foster went to Indiana to play basketball for Bob Knight. Foster runs Woodson car dealership in Pittsburgh.

Retirement

Woodson was released by the Oakland Raiders on July 27, 2004 after failing his team physical. His replacement at free safety for the Raiders was Stuart Schweigert, who coincidentally, broke Woodson’s career interception record at Purdue.

He now helps coach the defense at Valley Christian Senior High in Dublin, California along with former Raider John Parrella. Woodson lives in Pleasanton, California with his wife Nickie and their five children . His son, Demitrius, plays safety and wide receiver there as well as kick returner.

Since 1994, Woodson has operated an annual youth football camp, the Woodson/Fabini Football Camp, on the grounds of his former high school. He is also a partner in Woodson Motorsports, a BMW motorcycle dealership and repair shop in Fort Wayne.

Currently Woodson splits his time between NFL Network studios in Los Angeles, his home in Pleasanton,and his cottage in Coldwater, Michigan. He was also part of the studio team for BBC Sport’s NFL coverage in 2007, including Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIII.

Rod Woodson sponsored a charity benefit dinner and auction on July 25, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum – just two weeks before he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All proceeds went to the Football and Scholarship programs at Valley Christian School, the high school where Rod coaches.

References

^ Hayes, Reggie (2009-08-03). “Tracing Woodson’s path to greatness”. Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090803/SPORTS/908030336/1002. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 

^ “Former Boilermaker Rod Woodson Elected To Pro Football Hall Of Fame”. Purdue University. http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/013109aab.html. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 

^ Jeanguenat, John (2003-04-29). “Halls of fame induct, honor alumnus”. The Exponent. http://www.purdueexponent.org/interface/bebop/showstory.php?date=2003/04/29&section=sports. Retrieved 2008-08-01. 

^ I’ll take that!

^ FOOTBALL; Moon Passes Tests After Concussion The New York Times- Published: Wednesday, November 4, 1992

^ a b “Woodson set new standard in backfield”. USA Today. 2007-06-21. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-06-21-no-22-woodson_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-23. 

^ Attner, Paul (1993-11-29). “The Intimidator”. The Sporting News. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n22_v216/ai_14688205/pg_2. Retrieved 2008-09-23. 

^ Hall of Fame: Woodson greatness went beyond stats

^ The Class of 2009 presenters

^ “BBC announce studio team”. http://www.nfluk.com/news-display.php?id=2854. Retrieved 2008-09-23. 

^ http://www.rod-woodson-hall-of-fame.com “Rod Woodson HoF Benefit Dinner & Auction”. http://www.rod-woodson-hall-of-fame.com http://www.rod-woodson-hall-of-fame.com. Retrieved 2009-07-24. 

External links

Rod Woodson at ESPN.com

Woodson’s Stats

Rod Woodson at the Internet Movie Database

AP May 22, 1992

‘never Back Down’ SI Vault

Story >>I’ll take that! profootballhof.com

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Pittsburgh Steelers

Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates  Founded in 1933  Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Franchise

Franchise  History  Seasons  Logos and Uniforms  Coaches  Players  Quarterbacks  First-round draft picks  Statistics

Stadiums

Forbes Field  Pitt Stadium  Three Rivers Stadium  Heinz Field

Culture

Terrible Towel  Rooney family  Myron Cope  Steeler Nation  “Here We Go”

Lore

Immaculate Reception  Steel Curtain  Blitzburgh  1974 Draft Class  Terrible Curse  The Comeback II  Immaculate Redemption  Bengals rivalry  Browns rivalry  Ravens rivalry  The Steagles  Card-Pitt  Pennsylvania Keystoners  Steelerettes  Renegade

Head coaches

Douds  DiMelio  Bach  McNally  Kiesling  Bell  Donelli  Kiesling  Leonard  Sutherland  Michelosen  Bach  Kiesling  Parker  Nixon  Austin  Noll  Cowher  Tomlin

Division championships (19)

1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008

Super Bowl appearances (7)

IX  X  XIII  XIV  XXX  XL  XLIII

League championships (6)

1974  1975  1978  1979  2005  2008

Retired Numbers

70

Hall of Fame members

Players – Blount  Bradshaw  Dudley  Greene  Ham  Harris  Johnson  Lambert  Layne  Stallworth  Stautner  Swann  Webster  Woodson

Coaches and administration – Bell  Kiesling  LeBeau  Noll  Art Rooney  Dan Rooney

Seasons

1933  1934  1935  1936  1937  1938  1939  1940  1941  1942  1943  1944  1945  1946  1947  1948  1949  1950  1951  1952  1953  1954  1955  1956  1957  1958  1959  1960  1961  1962  1963  1964  1965  1966  1967  1968  1969  1970  1971  1972  1973  1974  1975  1976  1977  1978  1979  1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989  1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010

Current league affiliations

League: National Football League  Conference: American Football Conference  Division: North Division

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1987 NFL Draft First Round Selections

Vinny Testaverde  Cornelius Bennett  Alonzo Highsmith  Brent Fullwood  Mike Junkin  Kelly Stouffer  Reggie Rogers  Shane Conlan  Jerome Brown  Rod Woodson  Shawn Knight  Danny Noonan  Chris Miller  D. J. Dozier  John Clay  John Bosa  Jason Buck  Tony Woods  Paul Palmer  Haywood Jeffires  Roger Vick  Harris Barton  Bruce Armstrong  Rod Bernstine  Terrence Flagler  Jim Harbaugh  Ricky Nattiel  Mark Ingram

Draft Years

70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   00   01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09

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Pittsburgh Steelers First-round Draft selections

Bill Shakespeare (1936/ #3 overall) | Mike Basrak (1937/ #5) | Byron “Whizzer” White (1938/ #4) | Kay Eakin (1940/ #3) | Bill Dudley (1942/ #1) | Bill Daley (1943/ #7) | Johnny Podesto (1944/ #10) | Paul Duhart (1945/ #2) | Doc Blanchard (1946/ #3) | Hub Bechtol (1947/ #5) | Dan Edwards (1948/ #9) | Bobby Gage (1949/ #6) | Lynn Chandnois (1950/ #8) | Butch Avinger (1951/ #9) | Ed Modzelewski (1952/ #6) | Ted Marchibroda (1953/ #5) | Johnny Lattner (1954/ #7) | Frank Varrichione (1955/ #6) | Gary Glick (1956/ #1) | Art Davis (1956/ #5) | Len Dawson (1957/ #5) | Jack Spikes (1960/ #6) | Bob Ferguson (1962/ #5) | Paul Martha (1964/ #10) | Dick Leftridge (1966/ #3) | Mike Taylor (1968/ #10) | Joe Greene (1969/ #4) | Terry Bradshaw (1970/ #1) | Frank Lewis (1971/ #8) | Franco Harris (1972/ #13) | J. T. Thomas (1973/ #4) | Lynn Swann (1974/ #21) | Dave Brown (1975/ #26) | Bennie Cunningham (1976/ #28) | Robin Cole (1977/ #21) | Ron Johnson (1978/ #22) | Greg Hawthorne (1979/ #28) | Mark Malone (1980/ #28) | Keith Gary (1981/ #17) | Walter Abercrombie (1982/ #12) | Gabriel Rivera (1983/ #21) | Louis Lipps (1984/ #23) | Darryl Sims (1985/ #20) | John Rienstra (1986/ #9) | Rod Woodson (1987/ #10) | Aaron Jones (1988/ #18) | Tim Worley (1989/ #7) | Tom Ricketts (1989/ #24) | Eric Green (1990/ #21) | Huey Richardson (1991/ #15) | Leon Searcy (1992/ #11) | Deon Figures (1993/ #23) | Charles Johnson (1994/ #17) | Mark Bruener (1995/ #27) | Jamain Stephens (1996/ #29) | Chad Scott (1997/ #24) | Alan Faneca (1998/ #26) | Troy Edwards (1999/ #13) | Plaxico Burress (2000/ #8) | Casey Hampton (2001/ #19) | Kendall Simmons (2002/ #30) | Troy Polamalu (2003/ #16) | Ben Roethlisberger (2004/ #11) | Heath Miller (2005/ #30) | Santonio Holmes (2006/ #25) | Lawrence Timmons (2007/ #15) | Rashard Mendenhall (2008/ #23) | Evander Hood (2009/ #32)

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Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV Champions

3 Matt Stover | 5 Kyle Richardson | 7 Chris Redman | 8 Trent Dilfer | 11 Marcus Nash | 12 Tony Banks | 20 Kim Herring | 21 Chris McAlister | 22 Duane Starks | 25 Clarence Love | 26 Rod Woodson | 29 Chuck Evans | 30 Obafemi Ayanbadejo | 31 Jamal Lewis | 32 Sam Gash | 33 Priest Holmes | 35 Robert Bailey | 38 James Trapp | 42 Anthony Mitchell | 43 Anthony Poindexter | 45 Corey Harris | 50 Brad Jackson | 51 Cornell Brown | 52 Ray Lewis (MVP) | 55 Jamie Sharper | 56 Anthony Davis | 57 O. J. Brigance | 58 Peter Boulware | 60 Jeff Mitchell | 62 Mike Flynn | 64 Edwin Mulitalo | 66 John Hudson | 70 Harry Swayne | 71 Spencer Folau | 72 Sammy Williams | 74 Orlando Bobo | 75 Jonathan Ogden | 77 Kipp Vickers | 79 Larry Webster | 80 Brandon Stokley | 81 Ben Coates | 82 Shannon Sharpe | 83 Patrick Johnson | 84 Jermaine Lewis | 85 John Jones | 86 Billy Davis | 87 Qadry Ismail | 90 Rob Burnett | 91 Lional Dalton | 93 Keith Washington | 95 Sam Adams | 96 Adalius Thomas | 98 Tony Siragusa | 99 Michael McCrary

Head Coach: Brian Billick

Coaches: Matt Cavanaugh | Jim Colletto | Jack Del Rio | Wade Harman | Donnie Henderson | Milt Jackson | Marvin Lewis | Russ Purnell | Rex Ryan | Steve Shafer | Matt Simon | Mike Smith | Bennie Thompson | Paul McCord

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NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award from the Associated Press

1971: Page  1972: Greene  1973: Anderson  1974: Greene (x2)  1975: Blount  1976: Lambert 1977: Martin  1978: Gradishar  1979: Selmon  1980: Hayes  1981: Taylor  1982: Taylor (x2)  1983: Betters  1984: Easley  1985: Singletary  1986: Taylor (x3)  1987: White  1988: Singletary (x2)  1989: Millard  1990: Smith  1991: Swilling  1992: Kennedy  1993: Woodson  1994: D. Sanders  1995: Paup  1996: Smith (x2)  1997: Stubblefield  1998: White (x2)  1999: Sapp  2000: Lewis  2001: Strahan  2002: Brooks  2003: Lewis (x2)  2004: Reed  2005: Urlacher  2006: Taylor  2007: B. Sanders  2008: Harrison  2009: Woodson

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National Football League | NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team

Brett Favre | John Elway | Barry Sanders | Emmitt Smith | Terrell Davis | Thurman Thomas | Cris Carter | Jerry Rice | Tim Brown | Michael Irvin | Shannon Sharpe | Ben Coates | Willie Roaf | Gary Zimmerman | Tony Boselli | Richmond Webb | Bruce Matthews | Randall McDaniel | Larry Allen | Steve Wisniewski | Dermontti Dawson | Mark Stepnoski | Bruce Smith | Reggie White | Chris Doleman | Neil Smith | Cortez Kennedy | John Randle | Warren Sapp | Bryant Young | Kevin Greene | Junior Seau | Derrick Thomas | Cornelius Bennett | Hardy Nickerson | Levon Kirkland | Deion Sanders | Rod Woodson | Darrell Green | Aeneas Williams | Steve Atwater | LeRoy Butler | Carnell Lake | Ronnie Lott | Darren Bennett | Sean Landeta | Morten Andersen | Gary Anderson | Mel Gray | Michael Bates | Bill Parcells | Marv Levy

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National Football League | NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

Sammy Baugh | Otto Graham | Joe Montana | Johnny Unitas | Jim Brown | Marion Motley | Bronko Nagurski | Walter Payton | Gale Sayers | O.J. Simpson | Steve Van Buren | Lance Alworth | Raymond Berry | Don Hutson | Jerry Rice | Mike Ditka | Kellen Winslow | Roosevelt Brown | Forrest Gregg | Anthony Muoz | John Hannah | Jim Parker | Gene Upshaw | Mel Hein | Mike Webster | Deacon Jones | Gino Marchetti | Reggie White | Joe Greene | Bob Lilly | Merlin Olsen | Dick Butkus | Jack Ham | Ted Hendricks | Jack Lambert | Willie Lanier | Ray Nitschke | Lawrence Taylor | Mel Blount | Mike Haynes | Dick Lane | Rod Woodson | Ken Houston | Ronnie Lott | Larry Wilson | Ray Guy | Jan Stenerud | Billy Johnson

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Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Anniversary Team

Offense: Terry Bradshaw | Jerome Bettis | Rocky Bleier | Franco Harris | Bennie Cunningham | Elbie Nickel | John Stallworth | Lynn Swann | Hines Ward | Larry Brown | Dermontti Dawson | Alan Faneca | Tunch Ilkin | Jon Kolb | Mike Webster

Defense: “Mean” Joe Greene | L.C. Greenwood | Casey Hampton | Ernie Stautner | Dwight White | Jack Ham | Jack Lambert | Greg Lloyd | Joey Porter | Andy Russell | Mel Blount | Jack Butler | Carnell Lake | Troy Polamalu | Donnie Shell | Rod Woodson

Specialists: Gary Anderson | Bobby Walden

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2001 Pro Bowl AFC Starters

Offense

QB Rich Gannon | RB Edgerrin James | FB Richie Anderson | WR Marvin Harrison | WR Eric Moulds | TE Tony Gonzalez

OT Tony Boselli | OT Jonathan Ogden | G Ruben Brown | G Bruce Matthews | C Kevin Mawae

Defense

DE Trace Armstrong | DE Jason Taylor | DT Sam Adams | DT Trevor Pryce

OLB Mo Lewis | OLB Junior Seau | ILB Ray Lewis

CB Sam Madison | CB Samari Rolle | FS Rod Woodson | SS Blaine Bishop

Special Teams

P Darren Bennett | PK Matt Stover | KR Derrick Mason | ST Larry Izzo

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2002 Pro Bowl AFC Starters

Offense

QB Rich Gannon | RB Curtis Martin | FB Larry Centers | WR Marvin Harrison | WR Rod Smith | TE Tony Gonzalez

OT Lincoln Kennedy | OT Jonathan Ogden | G Alan Faneca | G Will Shields | C Kevin Mawae

Defense

DE John Abraham | DE Marcellus Wiley | DT Trevor Pryce | DT John Randle

OLB Jason Gildon | OLB Jamir Miller | ILB Ray Lewis

CB Sam Madison | CB Charles Woodson | FS Rod Woodson | SS Rodney Harrison

Special Teams

P Shane Lechler | PK Jason Elam | KR Jermaine Lewis | ST Ian Gold

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2003 Pro Bowl AFC Starters

Offense

QB Rich Gannon | RB Priest Holmes | FB Lorenzo Neal | WR Marvin Harrison | WR Jerry Rice | TE Tony Gonzalez

OT Jonathan Ogden | OT Willie Roaf | G Alan Faneca | G Will Shields | C Kevin Mawae

Defense

DE Trevor Pryce | DE Jason Taylor | DT Richard Seymour | DT Gary Walker

OLB Joey Porter | OLB Junior Seau | ILB Zach Thomas

CB Aaron Glenn | CB Patrick Surtain | FS Rod Woodson | SS Lawyer Milloy

Special Teams

P Chris Hanson | PK Adam Vinatieri | KR Dante Hall | ST Larry Izzo

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009

Bob Hayes Randall McDaniel Bruce Smith Derrick Thomas Ralph Wilson Rod Woodson

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NFL Total Access

Hosts

Paul Burmeister (2004-present)  Fran Charles (2006-present)  Spero Dedes (2006-present)  Rich Eisen (2003-present)  Alex Flanagan (2006-present)  Derrin Horton (2003-present)  Bill Patrick (2003-2004)

Analysts

Marcus Allen (2005)  Brian Baldinger (2003-present)  Bobby Beathard (2007)  Charles Davis (2007-present)  Butch Davis (2005-2006)  Terrell Davis (2003-present)  Jamie Dukes (2006-present)  Marshall Faulk (2006-present)  Seth Joyner (2003-2005)  Lincoln Kennedy (2003-2006)  Steve Mariucci (2006-present)  Mike Mayock (2003-present)  Jim E. Mora (2003-present)  Ken Norton, Jr. (2003-2004)  Glenn Parker (2003-2004)  Dan Reeves (2003-2005)  Deion Sanders (2006-present)  Sterling Sharpe (2003-present)  Emmitt Smith (2005)  Tom Waddle (2007-present)  Solomon Wilcots (2003-present)  Rod Woodson (2003-present)

Reporters

Jennifer Allen (2004-present)  Michelle Beisner (2006-present)  Scott Hanson (2006-present)  Kara Henderson (2004-present)  Adam Schefter (2003-2009)  Jason La Canfora (2009-present)

Categories: People from Fort Wayne, Indiana | African American players of American football | American football safeties | American football cornerbacks | American football return specialists | Purdue Boilermakers football players | Pittsburgh Steelers players | San Francisco 49ers players | Baltimore Ravens players | Oakland Raiders players | American Conference Pro Bowl players | NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team | Purdue University alumni | Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees | 1965 births | Living peopleHidden categories: All pages needing factual verification | Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2009