Robert Thomas Woods Bio
Robert Thomas Woods (born April 10, 1992) is an American professional football coach and former wide receiver who is currently the assistant wide receivers coach for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL). He played twelve seasons in the NFL after a distinguished college career at the University of Southern California, where he earned consensus All-American honors in 2011. Woods was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 2026. He won Super Bowl LVI as a member of the Rams in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Robert Thomas Woods was born on April 10, 1992, in Gardena, California. He attended Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, where he was teammates with George Farmer and Marqise Lee. As a junior in 2008, Woods recorded 81 receptions for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense, along with 87 tackles and seven interceptions on defense. His senior year saw him catch 66 passes for 1,112 yards while recording 96 tackles and eight interceptions on defense, helping the Serra Cavaliers achieve an undefeated 15-0 season and win the CIF Division 3 state championship.
Beyond football, Woods was an accomplished sprinter. He earned All-USA high school track and field honors in 2010, recording personal bests of 21.04 seconds in the 200-meter dash and 46.17 seconds in the 400-meter dash. His 400-meter time of 46.17 ranked fourth in the United States and eleventh on the 2010 World Junior list. Following his senior year, Woods was recognized as a USA Today high-school All-American and played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was rated as the No. 11 prospect overall by Scout.com and the No. 1 wide receiver prospect, while Rivals.com listed him as the nation’s No. 6 overall recruit and No. 1 ranked athlete.
Path to the NFL
Woods accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California, where he played for the USC Trojans from 2010 to 2012 under head coach Lane Kiffin. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, finishing with 65 receptions for 792 yards and six touchdowns while also leading the Pac-10 in kickoff returns with 971 yards. His sophomore season in 2011 became his breakout year, as he recorded 111 receptions for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Pac-12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns. Woods was named a consensus All-American and was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award and Maxwell Award. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, having compiled 245 receptions for 2,903 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons at USC.
Robert Thomas Woods Career
Buffalo Bills (2013–2016)
The Buffalo Bills selected Robert Thomas Woods in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $4.86 million contract with $2.49 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.91 million. Head coach Doug Marrone named Stevie Johnson and Woods the starting wide receivers to begin his rookie season. Woods made his NFL debut and first career start in the season opener against the New England Patriots, catching his first NFL touchdown on an 18-yard pass from quarterback E.J. Manuel during the 23-21 loss. He finished his rookie year with 40 receptions for 587 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.
Woods continued developing in his second season, competing against Mike Williams and Chris Hogan for the starting role. He recorded a season-high nine receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown during a Week 14 victory over the New York Jets. Woods finished the 2014 season with a career-high 65 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games. In 2015, Woods served as the third wide receiver behind Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin, catching a season-high nine passes for 84 yards and a touchdown during Week 7. He finished that season with 47 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns before being placed on injured reserve with a groin injury. In his final season with the Bills in 2016, Woods recorded 51 receptions for 613 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2017–2021)
On March 9, 2017, Woods signed with the Los Angeles Rams on a five-year, $34 million contract that included $15 million guaranteed. Head coach Sean McVay named Woods the No. 1 starting wide receiver. During his first season with the Rams, Woods caught six passes for 108 yards in a Week 3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football. He recorded his first multi-touchdown game with two touchdowns against the New York Giants and set a franchise record with a 94-yard touchdown reception against the Houston Texans, the longest by a Rams player since 1964. Woods finished his first Rams season with 56 receptions for a career-high 781 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games.
The 2018 season marked Woods’ emergence as one of the NFL’s top receivers. He finished with 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games, helping the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII where they fell to the New England Patriots. Woods was ranked 76th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019 after another strong season with 90 receptions for 1,134 yards and two touchdowns. In 2020, he signed a four-year, $65 million contract extension and recorded 90 receptions for 936 yards and six touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after a 12-catch, 130-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the 2021 season, Woods tore his ACL during practice in November, ending his season with 45 catches for 556 yards and five touchdowns in nine games. The Rams went on to win Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals with Woods on injured reserve.
Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans (2022–2024)
On March 19, 2022, Woods was traded to the Tennessee Titans for a 2023 sixth-round pick. He finished the season as the Titans’ leading receiver with 53 catches for 527 yards and two touchdowns despite career-low numbers. The Titans released Woods on February 22, 2023. He then signed with the Houston Texans on March 14, 2023, on a two-year contract. In the 2023 season, Woods appeared in 14 games and started 11, finishing with 40 receptions for 426 yards and a touchdown. During the 2024 season, he recorded 20 receptions for 203 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2025)
On April 28, 2025, Woods signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth $2 million. He was released by the Steelers on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. On September 2, Woods requested and was granted his release from the practice squad, concluding his playing career with twelve seasons in the NFL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Throughout his career, Woods was known for his reliability, precise route-running ability, and consistent hands. His versatility allowed him to line up in various positions across the formation, making him a valuable asset in the Rams’ offense under Sean McVay. Woods excelled at creating separation against both zone and man coverages, and his ability to make contested catches in traffic made him a trusted target for multiple quarterbacks throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Woods’ most memorable moments was his role in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI championship run in the 2021 season. Though his season ended prematurely due to injury, his contributions throughout the year helped position the team for success. His 94-yard touchdown reception against the Texans in 2017 set a Rams franchise record for the longest touchdown reception since 1964. Woods also reached the 1,000-yard receiving milestone for the first time in his career during the 2018 season.
Robert Thomas Woods Career Statistics
Over twelve NFL seasons, Robert Thomas Woods established himself as a reliable and productive wide receiver. His career spanned 683 receptions for 8,233 receiving yards and 38 receiving touchdowns across 161 games played. His best statistical seasons came with the Rams, where he topped 1,000 receiving yards twice and became a integral part of one of the league’s most dynamic offenses.
NFL Career Highlights
Woods’ most productive season came in 2018 with the Rams, when he recorded 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. He followed that with another strong season in 2019, catching 90 passes for 1,134 yards. His 2020 season included a career-best 12-catch performance against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Woods’ consistency was evident throughout his career, as he recorded at least 50 receptions in ten of his twelve NFL seasons.
College Career Statistics
During his three seasons at USC from 2010 to 2012, Woods recorded 245 receptions for 2,903 yards and 31 touchdowns. His 2011 sophomore season was particularly impressive, as he led the Pac-12 in both receptions and receiving touchdowns while ranking fourth in the conference in receiving yards. Woods’ 111 receptions and 15 receiving touchdowns in 2011 remain among the top single-season totals in USC history.
| Competition | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 161 | 683 | 8,233 | 38 |
| College (USC) | 38 | 245 | 2,903 | 31 |
Robert Thomas Woods Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Robert Thomas Woods comes from a football family. His father, Robert Woods, played for the Houston Oilers in 1978 and the Detroit Lions in 1979, giving him a connection to professional football that spanned generations. This family legacy undoubtedly influenced his path to the NFL.
Personal Life
Woods experienced significant personal tragedy when he lost his sister, Olivia, to cancer on April 19, 2007. Her death and final words to him served as motivation for Woods to pursue his goals of making it into the NFL and completing his college degree. He honored her memory in his commencement speech upon graduating from USC. On July 7, 2018, Woods married longtime partner Alexandra Barbee.
Robert Thomas Woods Coaching Career
Following his retirement from professional football, Robert Thomas Woods transitioned to coaching. On February 17, 2026, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, the team with which he experienced his greatest professional success. Less than a week later, on February 23, 2026, Woods joined the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Rams as an assistant wide receivers coach, beginning the next chapter of his football career by helping develop the next generation of receivers.