The only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy in the award's history.
Charles Woodson was born in Fremont, Ohio in 1976. He attended the University of Michigan and in 1997 became the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy in the award's entire history — defeating Peyton Manning of Tennessee in one of the most controversial Heisman votes ever. He won the Heisman despite playing cornerback — a position that has never produced another winner — because he also contributed on offense as a wide receiver and in the return game. He was the consensus All-American at cornerback and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back. Michigan shared the national championship with Nebraska in 1997. His interception and 78-yard return against Ohio State in the 1997 regular season — in the defining game of Michigan's championship run — remains one of the most celebrated plays in the rivalry's history. He was selected by Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. His professional career was as exceptional as his college career — 20 NFL seasons, a Super Bowl championship with Green Bay (2011), nine Pro Bowls and the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He is the only player in NFL history to record an interception in each of three different decades.
Heisman Trophy (1997)
Career Honours
- Heisman Trophy (1997)
- National Championship (1997)
- Consensus All-American
- Jim Thorpe Award