Former New York Jets running back Danny Woodhead, who defied the odds in getting a chance to play in the NFL, announced his retirement.
Danny Woodhead never scored a touchdown for the New York Jets. He never led the team in rushing or receiving. In fact, he played just 11 games over parts of two seasons with the team. Yet it was a picture of him in a Jets uniform that he used when announcing his retirement on Instagram.
Woodhead starred at Division II Chadron State, twice winning the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Despite not being invited to the NFL Combine, the Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent before the 2009 season.
He’d carry the ball 15 times for 64 yards and catch eight passes for 87 yards before the Jets cut him loose just one game into the 2010 season. He’d quickly get picked up by the New England Patriots, spending parts of three seasons with the Jets’ hated rivals.
In his first game against the Jets on Dec. 6, 2010, he carried the ball just two times for 11 yards but caught four passes for 104 yards, including a 50-yard bomb from Tom Brady late in the third quarter that set the Patriots up for another touchdown, putting them up 38-3.
Woodhead’s best statistical season would come in 2015 while a member of the San Diego Chargers. He carried the ball 98 times for 336 yards and three touchdowns, adding 80 catches for 755 yards and six touchdowns. His 1,091 yards from scrimmage were the most of his career, closely followed by the 1,034 he racked up for the Chargers in 2013.
Injuries limited the 5-foot-9, 200-pound dual-threat back, as he’d play in just 10 of a possible 32 games over the past two seasons with the Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
He finishes his career with 517 carries for 2,238 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns to go along with 300 receptions for 2,698 receiving yards and an additional 17 touchdowns.
Ravens safety Eric Weddle, who played multiple years with Woodhead in San Diego, took to Twitter to express his feelings upon hearing of his friend’s retirement.
Everyone at ESNY wishes Danny the best in retirement.