Steelers’ Legendary Defender Rod Woodson Praised By Current Day NFL Safety: "He Was Different Bro"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of defenders lining the halls of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The ones that tend to be spoken of the most are players like Joe Greene and Troy Polamalu. In other words, the players who won Super Bowls with Pittsburgh. However, there are other legends throughout Pittsburgh's history that never got to lift the Lombardi Trophy while wearing the black and gold. One of them is Rod Woodson, who is one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history.

The impressive group of players that played on the Steelers' teams from the 1980s and 1990s are often forgotten, since they are sandwiched in between the franchise two most important decades. Current NFL safety, Quentin Lake, knows how good Woodson was. Quentin is the son of Carnell Lake, who was one of Woodson's partners in the Steelers' defensive backfield. Quentin went on the No Bluffin Pod, where he was asked who he looked up to coming into the league.

"I'm old school kind of. A guy that I really like that I got to get close with because of my dad was Rod Woodson. Man, just the way he worked out, his speed, all the things he did, it's crazy. And that era is totally different, so I respect him and what they did back then. But he was different bro."

Woodson played in a time where the league was much more physical than it is today. He won the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year Award in 1993, and was also an 11-time Pro Bowler. He holds many individual accolades, but was never able to win the big game while playing for Pittsburgh.

Woodson retired after the 2003 season, as he finished his career with stints on the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders. He finally captured a Super Bowl ring while playing with Baltimore. He is tied for the most defensive touchdowns scored in NFL history, and also has the most interceptions returned for a touchdown out of any defender in league history. 

The 17-year veteran was at the top of the NFL at many different points in his career. He received his first All-Pro nod in just his third season, and received his last in his 16th season. He was the model of consistency at the cornerback position, and was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2009 in what was his first year of eligibility. 

Quentin obviously knew Woodson while he was growing up, and Woodson surely played a part in helping get to the NFL. Quentin was a sixth round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. His career has struggled some so far, but he was able to start four games at safety for the Rams in 2023. He'll look to build on that as he prepares for the 2024 season.

Steelers May Have A New Great Cornerback

Joey Porter Jr. was one of the best rookies in the NFL during the 2023. He was a finalist for the Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award, and had he started the entire season he may have had a better chance to take home the hardware. He didn't become a starter for the Steelers until nearly halfway through the year, but he immediately made an impact. 

There were times where Porter would follow the opposing team's best wide receiver, and nearly completely erase them from the game. He only had one interception in his rookie year, but fans know the true impact he made on Pittsburgh's defense. If Porter can continue this success into 2024, he has the potential to be one of the cornerbacks in the league. He may be the next great Steelers defender, looking to carry on the legacy of a guy like Woodson.

What do you think of Quentin's comments on Woodson? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation