Quick Facts
Biography
Donald Ray Woods (born February 17, 1951 in Denton, Texas) is a retired National Football League American football running back who played with the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers from 1974–1980. Woods attended New Mexico Highlands University for college before transferring to the University of New Mexico when New Mexico Highlands dropped their football program. Woods was selected in the 6th Round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay released Woods at the end of training camp and he was subsequently picked up by the Chargers early in the 1974 season.
The move proved very fruitful for San Diego, as Woods, despite not suiting up until the 3rd week of the season, went on to set a then-NFL-rookie-rushing-record of 1,162 yards in only 12 games, including a then-rookie-record seven 100-yard rushing performances (weeks 3,4,5,7,8,10,12, and 14). Woods was selected the 1974 NFL Rookie of the Year.
Injuries slowed Woods down during the 1975 campaign and while having several solid years with the Chargers, was never able to recapture the electricity of his rookie campaign. Woods was eventually phased out of the Chargers offense and traded to San Francisco during the 1980 season, finishing out his career that season with the 49ers. Woods finished his career with 3,087 career rushing yards and scored a total of 21 touchdowns. As of late 2014, Woods remains number 7 on the all-time Chargers rushing list.