It has been years since former Green Bay Packers star defensive back Charles Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. That was in 2021.
On Monday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame put the spotlight on the nine-time Pro Bowler.
Via the Pro Football Hall of Fame on X (formerly Twitter):
It’s National Sportsmanship Day and a perfect moment to spotlight Hall of Famer Charles Woodson @CharlesWoodson. The @Raiderslegend pictured here after winning the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award at NFL Honors in 2016. A true standard for respect, leadership, and how the game should be played.
Woodson started his pro career with the Oakland Raiders, who took him fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played for them until the 2005 season.
Woodson was a Pro Bowler in each of his first four seasons in the league. But one can make a strong case that he had more success with the Packers than with Oakland.
In seven seasons with Green Bay, Woodson earned four more Pro Bowl nods. While he won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as a Raider, he took home the much more prestigious NFL Defensive Player of the Year as a Packer.
In addition, he had more interceptions (38) with Green Bay than with Oakland (27).
Fans push back after announcement on former Packers star Woodson
While the post was respectful in tone and well-meaning, many fans criticized it for calling Woodson a “Raiders legend” instead of a Packers one.
“Seems like there was another team he played for where he logged most of his INTs, TDs, Sacks, won a ring, was named DPOY, etc.,” said a fan on X.
Another one said: “Yea, you guys missed the mark on this one. Leaving the Packers out of this like he didn’t do more in Green Bay than he did with the Raiders?”
From a commenter: “Raiders Legend” …. ????”
“Packers Legend come on,” a social media user posted.
Via a different commenter: “DPOY and Super Bowl with Packers. Raiders gave up on him early.”
Said another: “Charles’s time in Green Bay was more outstanding than his time in Oakland. Was he a Raiders legend? I suppose. But he changed the course of the Packers franchise forever.”
Nov 20, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay cornerback Woodson (21) breaks up the pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Preston Parker (87) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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