XFL: Who is Rod Woodson? Exploring coaching career of Hall of Fame Defensive Back

Two games and two losses for the Vegas Vipers in the XFL. That puts their coach Rod Woodson in the hot seat in the still-nascent season. Today's 18-6 loss at home to the DC Defenders follows their 22-20 Week 1 loss against the Arlington Renegades.

Pressure is not something Rod Woodson is used to facing. Instead, the Pro Football Hall of Fame member was known throughout his playing career for putting pressure on opposing offenses. He is clearly not finding coaching easier than playing.

Rod Woodson began his coaching career in the NFL in 2010 as a coaching intern with the Cincinnati Bengals as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program. In 2011, he joined the Oakland Raiders as the cornerbacks' coach, where he had last played professionally. Lasting only one season there, he redid his coaching internship under the same fellowship as before with the Denver Broncos in 2014.

That allowed him the chance to return to the Oakland Raiders again for a second stint. From 2015 to 2016, he was the assistant defensive backs coach. In 2017, he was promoted to his previous role as the cornerbacks' coach but again lasted only a year. In 2023, he got the chance to resume his coaching career in the XFL as he became the head coach and the general manager of the Vegas Vipers.

A sneak peek into Rod Woodson's playing career

Irrespective of how his coaching stint fares in the XFL, Rod Woodson's playing career is what pro football players dream of. He was a famed defensive back, playing both cornerback and safety over his illustrious career, who made it to 11 Pro Bowls in his career. He is one of the only few players in NFL history to have double-digit selections.

He began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for them from 1987 to 1996. Despite not tasting team success, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He joined the San Francisco 49ers for one season in 1997, before playing with the Baltimore Ravens from 1998 to 2001. He was the NFL interceptions leader in 1999 and won Super Bowl XXXV at the conclusion of the 2000 NFL season as part of a fearsome Baltimore defense.

He played his final two seasons with the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, he was crowned the NFL interceptions leader yet again. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.