Eighteen years after his journey in professional football began, Charles Woodson announced Monday evening that the journey would be coming to an end January 3 in Kansas City.
After appearing in 252 regular season games as both as a Raider and a member of the Green Bay Packers, Woodson announced to a select group of local media at the team's Alameda, Calif., facility that 2015 would be his final season in the NFL.
Tuesday, his teammates chimed in on the future Hall of Famer calling it a career.
Cornerback David Amerson
"You have no choice but to respect and cherish the last couple of weeks or the last couple of moments that you have with him, because he's probably one of the greatest to ever play the position. You just have to cherish and really realize the situation that you had the opportunity to play with him, be around him.
"He's always been one of my favorites. He was playing corner and he was one of my favorite corners. People were always hollering about Deion Sanders, but I was always saying, 'Charles Woodson, Charles Woodson.' Who knew that I would end up playing with him my third year in the league? He'll probably go down as one of the best [defensive backs] ever. I think people will just look back and say, 'what an amazing career.' You can't really put it in any other words."
Defensive End Khalil Mack
"He told us he gave us his all, that's all he had, this is the last one, so you have to respect it. A great career, a great person. I'm proud and I'm glad to be able to have these two seasons with him.
"He taught me how to be a pro, that's something you can always cherish because he does it at the highest level."
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper
"It was unexpected. I didn't think he actually would; he's had such a great year this year. Like he said, physically he's able to do it, but you can never tell if a guy's mentally there and he actually wants to come back. He's had a long, storied career, and it was just sad."
Running Back Latavius Murray
"It's really been an honor just to play with a guy like that, especially my first few years. He leads by example, obviously, he's a future Hall of Famer walking around here, so nothing but respect for him, and again, just honored that I had the chance to play with him. He's a guy that, even this year, no matter what, he's out there on the field and he's going to give it his all."
Defensive Tackle Leon Orr
"It was a very bittersweet moment. I think when you have a guy like that who's been playing for a very long time at that level, at such a high level, it was going to happen at some point. Me, coming in as a rookie, I feel like I didn't do anything but experience one of the most humble guys I think I've ever been around as a person, to just be that great. To actually get a chance to play with him, be around him, and to hear news like that, it was definitely a bittersweet moment.
"I think every time I have a conversation with him, I'm just lit up, my smile is from ear to ear. It's like growing up watching Batman and then being able to become Robin. It's one of those surreal moments where you're under somebody and watching greatness [unfurl] in front of you. It definitely was a surreal moment for sure."
