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Note: Updated for Charles Woodson’s 2021 Hall of Fame selection.
On the defensive side in football, arguably the most important position after having a dominant pass rusher is a lockdown cornerback – by shutting down half the football field or the other team’s best wide receiver, an elite cornerback can effectively disrupt an opposing team’s entire offense. For well over a decade in the 2000s and early 2010s, Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson were two of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks (before Woodson made a seamless transition to ballhawking safety) on their way to the Hall of Fame in Canton. Between these two great defensive backs, with their essentially overlapping careers, an apt question to ask is:
Who was better – Champ Bailey or Charles Woodson?
The Beginning
In what is an increasingly rare occurrence, Bailey and Woodson were both two-way football stars in college (in fact, Woodson’s college career was historic) before becoming top-ten NFL draft picks and making an immediate impact at the professional level.
Born in Kentucky, but raised in Georgia, Bailey was a football star on both sides of the ball in high school and attended local University of Georgia, where he continued to excel in all aspects of the game (offense, defense, special teams). As a junior, he played 957 total snaps (547 on defense, 301 on offense, 109 on special teams) and accumulated 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defended, 47 catches for 744 yards and 5 touchdowns, 16 carries for 84 yards, 12 kick-off returns for 261 yards, and 4 punt returns for 49 yards; as a result of his brilliant all-around play, Bailey was honored as First Team All-SEC, a First Team All-American, and winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as top defensive player. Additionally, he was also a standout in track and field, setting a school indoor long jump record. With nothing left to prove, Bailey declared early for the NFL and was selected seventh overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Playing in a defensive backfield with Hall of Fame teammates like Deion Sanders and Darrell Green, he started immediately as a rookie and had 66 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 16 passes defended.
Similarly, Ohio native Woodson played both running back and defensive back in high school and in his senior year, was named Mr. Football in Ohio, a USA Today All-American, and a PARADE All-American; additionally, he also starred in basketball and track and field. While most colleges recruited him to play running back, Woodson chose to attend the University of Michigan, which recruited him to play defensive back. During his three years at Michigan, he became a starter early in his freshman year at cornerback while also returning punts and occasionally lining up at wide receiver. After earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten honors as a freshman, he was the Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year, an AP First Team All-American, All-Big Ten First Team, and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for top defensive back as a sophomore. Woodson’s junior year was even better – not only was he once again Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, a First Team All-American, winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, and winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for best defensive player, but he also became the third Michigan player and the only primarily defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy (beating out quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee). Moreover, he helped guide Michigan to an undefeated record and a share of the national championship with Nebraska. As a result, Woodson was selected fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, and put up 64 tackles and 5 interceptions (including a return touchdown) at cornerback to earn a Pro Bowl nod and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Career Comparison
During long and productive NFL careers, Bailey was an elite cornerback for nearly his entire career across two franchises; meanwhile, Woodson was a top-flight cornerback with the Raiders in the first half of his career before reinventing himself as arguably the best safety in football in his second act in Green Bay.
During his time in Washington, Bailey quickly evolved into a Pro Bowl player, earning the first of eight straight selections in his second year (2000) with 57 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 14 passes defended, which also earned him Second Team All-Pro honors. In 2002, he had 68 tackles, 3 interceptions, and led the NFL with a personal-best 24 passes defended; the next year, he was again Second Team All-Pro with 71 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 9 passes defended. However, set to become a free agent after the 2003 season, Bailey did not want to receive the franchise tag; since he was unable to come to a long-term deal with the Redskins, Washington traded him with a second-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for star running back Clinton Portis in a rare player-for-player swap.
Bailey’s first three seasons in Denver were arguably his best, as he was named a First Team All-Pro each year – notably:
- 2005: 64 tackles, a then career-high 8 interceptions (including a pair of touchdowns), and 23 passes defended
- 2006: arguably the best season of his career – a career-high 85 tackles, a career-best and league-leading 10 interceptions (with a touchdown), and 21 passes defended; Bailey did not give up a single touchdown through the air and finished second for Defensive Player of the Year honors
Subsequent to this peak, Bailey remained a Pro Bowl-caliber player for most of his Broncos career, though was challenged less by opposing quarterbacks. In 2007, he was once again a Second Team All-Pro with 84 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 14 passes defended; however, Bailey only played in nine games in 2008 due to injury and would miss the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season.
Despite the injury setback, Bailey wasted no time in bouncing back in 2009 with 74 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 15 passes defended, and once again did not allow a single passing touchdown. Then, in 2010, he was selected to a record 10th Pro Bowl for a cornerback and would ultimately make two more (2011 and 2012), making it a dozen selections overall. During the 2013 season, Bailey only played in five games due to a foot injury and was released at season’s end; though he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2014, he did not make the regular season roster and thus, announced his retirement.
Woodson was likewise a stud during his early Oakland days, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his first four seasons. In 1999, he garnered First Team All-Pro honors on the strength of 61 tackles, an interception (returned for a touchdown), and 15 passes defended, and followed up with a Second Team All-Pro selection in 2000 (79 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 13 passes defended). His last Pro Bowl season as a Raider came in 2001 as he posted 52 tackles, an interception, 11 passes defended, and 2.0 sacks. However, a shoulder injury limited Woodson to only eight games in 2002 and he was solid, but spectacular the next two seasons playing under the franchise tag. Injuries struck again in 2005, as a broken leg limited him to only six games played and marked the end of his tenure in Oakland; during the offseason, Woodson joined the Green Bay Packers as a free agent.
During his time in Green Bay, Woodson gradually got better – his first season as a Packer in 2006 resulted in a then career-high 8 interceptions and would be the first of six straight seasons scoring an interception return touchdown. He returned to Pro Bowl form in 2008 (the first of four straight selections) and was named Second Team All-Pro with 62 tackles, 7 interceptions (2 touchdowns), 17 passes defended, and 3.0 sacks. This was followed by a dominant three-year stretch that included arguably Woodson’s finest season in 2009:
- 2009: 74 tackles, a league-high and career-best 9 interceptions (including a league-leading and career-high 3 touchdowns), 18 passes defended, and 2.0 sacks; Woodson was not only a First Team All-Pro once again, but also won Defensive Player of the Year honors
- 2010: 92 tackles, 2 interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 2.0 sacks; Second Team All-Pro
- 2011: 74 tackles, a league-leading 7 interceptions, 17 passes defended, and 2.0 sacks; last First Team All-Pro selection
In 2012, Woodson made the full-time switch from cornerback to safety, though only played in seven games due to injury in what would be his final season in Green Bay. After being released, he returned to the Raiders in 2013 as a safety, setting successive career-highs of 97 and 111 tackles, respectively, in 2013 and 2014. He would retire as a Raider following his final Pro Bowl season in 2015 at age 39 (74 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 9 passes defended).
Overall, Woodson played 18 seasons to Bailey’s 15 years and appeared in 39 additional regular season games; statistically, Woodson has the edge in nearly every category, from tackles to sacks to interceptions (Woodson’s 65 career interceptions are tied for fifth-most all-time) to fumbles to touchdowns. However, numbers do not tell the full story for defensive backs – since Bailey was such a dominant corner, quarterbacks rarely threw at him, thus giving him fewer opportunities to rack up numbers. When you look at their respective awards and accolades, Bailey actually has more Pro Bowl selections (12x vs. 9x), with both players earning three All-Pro selections and Woodson also winning Defensive Player of the Year once. As a result, Bailey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, followed by Woodson in 2021, both on the first ballot.
Regular Season Statistics
| Champ Bailey | Player | Charles Woodson |
| 15 (1999-2013) | Seasons | 18 (1998-2015) |
| 215 | Games Played | 254 |
| 52 | Interceptions | 65 |
| 3.0 | Sacks | 20.0 |
| 7 | Forced Fumbles | 33 |
| 4 | Defensive Touchdowns | 11 |
| 908 | Tackles | 1,205 |
| 12x | Pro Bowls | 9x |
| 3x | All-Pro | 3x |
| – | Super Bowls | 1x |
| – | Other Awards | 1x Defensive POY, Defensive ROY |
| 2019 | Hall of Fame Induction | 2021 |
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
Along with their individual brilliance, Bailey and Woodson were both important playoff contributors, with each player leading his respective team to the Super Bowl, and Woodson coming away with that coveted Lombardi Trophy.
In his six career postseason appearances (one with the Redskins and five with the Broncos), perhaps Bailey’s most notable individual highlight was taking a 100-yard interception return of Tom Brady from the end zone down to the Patriots’ one-yard line in a 2006 Divisional round game, the longest non-scoring play in NFL history. During the 2013 season, he helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl XLVIII vs. Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks; though Bailey had four tackles, the Broncos were trounced by the Seahawks by a 43-8 final score.
Meanwhile, Woodson made eight total playoff trips (three with the Raiders and five with the Packers), reaching the Super Bowl once with each team. In 2002, the Raiders made it to Super Bowl XXXVII vs. former coach Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; though Woodson had an interception in the game (in fact, the only playoff interception of his career), the Raiders were handily defeated 48-21. Almost a decade later, Woodson got his redemption – after beating the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and a Brian Urlacher-led Chicago Bears team in the NFC, the Packers faced off in Super Bowl XLV vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, after racking up three tackles, Woodson broke his collarbone right before halftime and was forced to miss the remainder of the game; nevertheless, the Packers held on for a 31-25 victory.
Playoff Statistics
| Champ Bailey | Player | Charles Woodson |
| 11 | Games Played | 17 |
| 2 | Interceptions | 1 |
| – | Sacks | 1.0 |
| – | Forced Fumbles | – |
| 35 | Tackles | 76 |
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
Every athlete goes through a natural career lifecycle, from starting off as a rookie to reaching peak years of performance and finally, declining into the inevitable retirement due to a combination of age and/or injury; while both Bailey and Woodson played at a high level for a long time, each did miss significant portions of multiple seasons due to injuries. For Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I like to look at a concept I call a “decade of dominance.” The thinking behind this is that for most Hall of Fame type careers, there are roughly 10 great seasons that define an athlete (this idea is embodied in a sense by the NFL’s All-Decade teams, of which Bailey and Woodson are both on for the 2000s team), though due to injury or other factors, they might not be 10 consecutive years.
Decade of Dominance
| Champ Bailey | Player | Charles Woodson |
| 2000-2007, 2009-2010 | Decade of Dominance | 1998-2001, 2006-2011 |
| 156 | Games Played | 157 |
| 42 | Interceptions | 48 |
| 1.0 | Sacks | 12.0 |
| 4 | Forced Fumbles | 20 |
| 3 | Defensive Touchdowns | 11 |
| 679 | Tackles | 680 |
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
While numbers cannot fully quantify each player’s impact on the field, from a statistical perspective, Woodson again holds the advantage across their respective decades of dominance – across a similar number of games played, they essentially have the same number of tackles, but Woodson has more interceptions, sacks, fumbles, and touchdowns.
My Thoughts
When it comes to deciding who was better between these two defensive backs, Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson were very distinctive players. On one hand, Bailey epitomized the concept of a shutdown cornerback – though there were others who had better seasons here and there, no one was as good for as long as he was (a dozen plus years); in fact, he was so good in coverage that in AFC West battles with the Kansas City Chiefs, Bailey was often tasked with defending Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, who ironically is part of the same induction class. On the other hand, while Woodson was no slouch in coverage, he is perhaps best remembered for his versatility (e.g. switching from cornerback to safety without any dropoff in performance), and an uncanny knack for being around the ball and making big plays. To encapsulate these differences, I would say that Bailey was the better cornerback, but Woodson was the better football player.
Thus, after weighing their careers against each other in terms of statistics, achievements, and impact, the winner of this faceoff is:
Charles Woodson
As always, vote for your choice and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Further Reading
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