David Woodley
Encyclopedia
David Eugene Woodley was an American football
player and quarterback
for Louisiana State University
(1977–1979), the National Football League
's Miami Dolphins
(1980–1983), and the Pittsburgh Steelers
(1984–1985). Woodley's running ability and intelligence, in addition to his passing skills, helped elevate him to become a starting NFL quarterback.
Woodley was a three year starter and All-State quarterback for C. E. Byrd High School
in Shreveport, Louisiana
, before signing to play college football at LSU. In his final college game as a senior, he led LSU to a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest University
in the 1979 Tangerine Bowl
and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.
As quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, Woodley is best known as the bridge between the eras of Hall of Famers
Bob Griese
and Dan Marino
. Despite being an eighth round draft selection, he was elected the Miami Dolphins team MVP for his rookie season in 1980. In the 1980 season, he set and still holds the Miami Dolphins team record for most pass completions (176) for a rookie QB. In 1982, he became one of the few NFL players to score touchdowns passing, running and receiving in an NFL season. Woodley split time with backup Don Strock
, or "WoodStrock" as they were referred. Woodley started for the Dolphins in the 1981-82 playoff game versus the San Diego Chargers
. After Miami fell behind 24-0, Strock led the Dolphins back into the game.
In the strike-shortened season of 1982, Woodley handled the lion's share of the time at QB en route to Miami winning the American Football Conference
title. The Dolphins went on to face the Washington Redskins
in Super Bowl XVII
. At the time, he was the youngest Super Bowl
starting quarterback in NFL history. Despite starting the game well with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo
, Woodley and the entire offense struggled after that, going 0 for 8 passing in the second half. The Redskins won the game 27-17.
In 1983, Woodley was Miami's starting quarterback, but in week five, the underperforming offense prompted coach Don Shula
to insert then rookie quarterback, Dan Marino
midway through a 17-7 road loss to the New Orleans Saints
. By the next week, Marino was named the starter for the remainder of the season. Woodley was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1983 season to compete with Cliff Stoudt
and Mark Malone
for the starting job for the 1984 season (elbow problems forced Terry Bradshaw
to retire after the 1983 season). Woodley split the starting quarterback duty with Malone during both the 1984 and 1985 NFL seasons.
Despite being the highest paid player on the Steelers, Woodley abruptly retired before the 1986 season. His career officially ended after he was released by the Green Bay Packers
during training camp in 1987.
Woodley is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history (Ken Stabler
) to have a career winning percentage above .600 while also throwing at least 10 more interceptions than touchdowns. Woodley's career record was 34-18-1 (.651) despite throwing 63 interceptions against his 48 career touchdown passes.
After football, Woodley increasingly drank, causing several health problems. Woodley underwent a liver transplant in Shreveport in 1992. On May, 4 2003 Woodley died from complications due to kidney and liver failure.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
(1977–1979), the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1980–1983), and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
(1984–1985). Woodley's running ability and intelligence, in addition to his passing skills, helped elevate him to become a starting NFL quarterback.
Woodley was a three year starter and All-State quarterback for C. E. Byrd High School
C. E. Byrd High School
C. E. Byrd High School is a science and mathematics magnet and a Blue Ribbon School. In continuous operation since 1925, Byrd is the largest high school in Shreveport, Louisiana and has the largest alumni association of any U.S. high school....
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, before signing to play college football at LSU. In his final college game as a senior, he led LSU to a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in the 1979 Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.
As quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, Woodley is best known as the bridge between the eras of Hall of Famers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
and Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
. Despite being an eighth round draft selection, he was elected the Miami Dolphins team MVP for his rookie season in 1980. In the 1980 season, he set and still holds the Miami Dolphins team record for most pass completions (176) for a rookie QB. In 1982, he became one of the few NFL players to score touchdowns passing, running and receiving in an NFL season. Woodley split time with backup Don Strock
Don Strock
Don Strock is a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Florida International University football team from 2002–2006.-College:Strock played college football at Virginia Tech, and graduated in 1973...
, or "WoodStrock" as they were referred. Woodley started for the Dolphins in the 1981-82 playoff game versus the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After Miami fell behind 24-0, Strock led the Dolphins back into the game.
In the strike-shortened season of 1982, Woodley handled the lion's share of the time at QB en route to Miami winning the American Football Conference
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
title. The Dolphins went on to face the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
. At the time, he was the youngest Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
starting quarterback in NFL history. Despite starting the game well with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo
James Carmen Cefalo, , is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.-High school:Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania...
, Woodley and the entire offense struggled after that, going 0 for 8 passing in the second half. The Redskins won the game 27-17.
In 1983, Woodley was Miami's starting quarterback, but in week five, the underperforming offense prompted coach Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
to insert then rookie quarterback, Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
midway through a 17-7 road loss to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. By the next week, Marino was named the starter for the remainder of the season. Woodley was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1983 season to compete with Cliff Stoudt
Cliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
and Mark Malone
Mark Malone
Mark M. Malone is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.-Playing career:Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California...
for the starting job for the 1984 season (elbow problems forced Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
to retire after the 1983 season). Woodley split the starting quarterback duty with Malone during both the 1984 and 1985 NFL seasons.
Despite being the highest paid player on the Steelers, Woodley abruptly retired before the 1986 season. His career officially ended after he was released by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
during training camp in 1987.
Woodley is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history (Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
) to have a career winning percentage above .600 while also throwing at least 10 more interceptions than touchdowns. Woodley's career record was 34-18-1 (.651) despite throwing 63 interceptions against his 48 career touchdown passes.
After football, Woodley increasingly drank, causing several health problems. Woodley underwent a liver transplant in Shreveport in 1992. On May, 4 2003 Woodley died from complications due to kidney and liver failure.