TAMPA, Fla. - In the city where the Ravens won their Super Bowl, they made team history once again.
Versatile defensive back Rod Woodson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday, becoming the first former Raven to receive the honor.
Known for his speed and big-play ability, Woodson played four of his 17 seasons with the Ravens (1998-2001). The sage leader on the Ravens' record-setting defense, he won his only Super Bowl with the Ravens in January 2001 in Tampa.
"I'm still pinching myself a little bit," Woodson said. "It's so surreal. I'm going to take it slowly and soak all of this in. Right now, it hasn't hit me. Maybe when I get fitted for the jacket, it will."
Woodson's celebration was bittersweet because Shannon Sharpe, his close friend and former Ravens teammate, did not make the cut. He likely will be a finalist again next year.
Woodson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, with career sacks leader Bruce Smith; longtime Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr.; late Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas; former Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel; and the late Bob Hayes, a standout wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
Woodson and Smith made the Hall in their first years of eligibility. Since 1990, Woodson is just the third defensive back to be elected in his first year. Ronnie Lott and Darrell Green were the others.
"I've always been a big fan of Rod," Smith said. "Whenever we played Pittsburgh, one thing I said: 'Don't ever throw the ball near Rod Woodson. He's going to come down with it.' "
Woodson was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and was named to the league's 1990s All-Decade team. He is the career leader in interception returns for touchdowns with 12.
Woodson, who is primarily known as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers (he played with them for the first 10 seasons of his career), was key in turning around the Ravens from a perennial loser to a championship team.
Woodson also made a pivotal career move with the Ravens in 1999. After being one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for 12 years, he switched to safety with great success. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1999 with the Ravens and 2002 with the Oakland Raiders.
At yesterday's news conference, Woodson thanked former Ravens majority owner Art Modell and mentioned his ties with the Ravens' front office, linebacker Ray Lewis and current owner Steve Bisciotti.
