Packers Release Woodson 2/15/13

The Green Bay Packers have released DB Charles Woodson. The transaction was announced Friday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

Woodson, who signed with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 after playing eight seasons (1998-2005) for the Oakland Raiders, started all 100 games he played in for Green Bay during his seven seasons (2006-12) with the club. He was named to the Pro Bowl four consecutive seasons (2008-11) and earned first-team All-Pro recognition from The Associated Press in 2009 and 2011. Woodson was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by AP in 2009, joining DE Reggie White (1998) as the only Packers to ever win the award. That season, Woodson posted a career-high nine interceptions, which was tied for the NFL lead, along with four forced fumbles, two sacks and 21 passes defensed.

"We are grateful for all that Charles has given to the Green Bay Packers over the past seven years," Thompson said. "He has been an integral part of the Packers' success and our Super Bowl title in 2010 would not have been possible without his contributions. A once-in-a-generation talent as a player, he is also a great leader and ambassador for the organization off the field. Charles will always be a member of the Packers family and we look forward to his eventual induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We wish him and his family all the best."

Woodson holds franchise records for the most defensive touchdowns with 10 (nine interceptions, one fumble return) and the most interception returns for touchdowns with nine. He is tied for No. 2 in league history with 11 career INT returns for touchdowns, trailing only Rod Woodson (12). Woodson is tied for No. 4 in franchise history with 38 interceptions and joins Bobby Dillon as the only players in team annals to register seven-plus interceptions in four different seasons (2006, 2008-09, 2011).

Woodson was a vital part of a Packers team that won Super Bowl XLV in the 2010 season, establishing career highs in tackles (105) and forced fumbles (five) and becoming the first player in league history to return an INT for a touchdown in five straight seasons (2006-10). He was also voted the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award that season by his teammates.