When does an NFL player know that it's finally time to hang up the cleats for good? Well, it depends. Sometimes, the decision is made for them by those individuals in the front office. Other times, injuries play a significant part. But, when it comes to Charles Woodson, he simply woke up one day and knew he was done.
During a recent interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Woodson revealed the exact day he knew that it was time to put his illustrious career to an end. "That was November 22, 2015. It was the morning of the Detroit Lions game," he said. "I woke up, and I knew I was done. That instant. I knew it was over. No more football."
The most remarkable thing about Woodson's revelation is that, at the time, he was having his best season in four years. Woodson had the most interceptions (5) and pass deflections (9) since< the 2011 campaign when he selected to his eighth Pro Bowl. Ultimately, it came down to the 39-year-old's passion for the game, or lack thereof. "That morning, I woke up, we're in Detroit, and it's snowing out there," he recalls. "I looked out the window, and I said to myself, if they called my room right now, and said, 'It's snowing too bad, nobody can get to the stadium, the game has been called,' I would've perfectly fine with that."
Woodson went on to practice throughout the week, and play six more games knowing in his heart that he didn't have the desire to play anymore.
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