There’s no doubt Charles Woodson left an incredible mark on the NFL. Now, it looks like he’s making just as big of an impact off the field.
Already known for his passion for wine, Woodson has his own label, TwentyFour by Charles Woodson. Based in Napa, California, the winery continues to grow in popularity. But now, Woodson is stepping into an even busier role — this time back in the NFL but in a new capacity.
Dianna Russini, an NFL insider for The Athletic and host of the "Scoop City" podcast, shared the news about the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s next venture:
"Hall of Famer Charles Woodson is set to purchase a 0.1% stake in the Browns from the Haslam family."
Russini added: "The sale is contingent upon Woodson agreeing to similar broadcasting restrictions to Raiders owner Tom Brady and removing his name, image and likeness from businesses he is involved in."
Woodson has already made a name for himself in the media world. He was part of ESPN’s "Sunday NFL Countdown" from 2016 to 2018, then transitioned to Fox Sports as a college football analyst.
A native of Fremont, Ohio, Woodson starred at Fremont Ross High School as a member of the Little Giants. Though he now lives in the Orlando, Florida, area with his family, he frequently refers to Ohio as home.
charles woodson
Former Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
During his college days, Woodson became a legend at the University of Michigan. In 1997, he won the Heisman Trophy and helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship. That same season, he also picked up the Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards and earned first-team All-American honors.
He was selected fourth overall in the 1998 NFL draft and went on to set the record for most consecutive seasons with an interception returned for a touchdown (six). Woodson finished his career with 65 interceptions, 13 defensive touchdowns and 20 sacks.
His NFL journey spanned from 1998 to 2015, playing for both the then-Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers. He began his career with the Raiders from 1998 to 2005, then joined the Packers, before returning to the Raiders from 2013 to 2015.
Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998 and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and capped off his illustrious career with a Super Bowl XLV victory. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.