Robert Woods retires from NFL: Veteran wide receiver stepping away after 13 seasons

Veteran wide receiver Robert Woods, who played 13 years after being selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, announced his retirement Tuesday.

“After 27 unforgettable years of pouring my heart into this game and 13 incredible years in the NFL, it’s time for me to step away from the sport that gave me everything,” Woods wrote on Instagram. “Football has never been just a game to me: it is my passion, my goal and my life’s dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I took the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every moment.”

Woods signed a one-day contract Tuesday to retire as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Woods had not appeared in a regular season game since 2024, his second year with the Houston Texans. He was originally drafted out of USC by the Buffalo Bills, where he played his first four seasons.

Woods signed with the Rams in March 2017 before coach Sean McVay’s first season with the franchise. He only played in 12 games, but recorded a career-high (to that point) with 56 catches for 781 yards with five touchdowns. He was the Rams’ leading receiver in 2018 when they went to the Super Bowl, where he had five catches for 70 yards. He finished the 2018 campaign with 1,219 yards and six touchdowns.

Woods was also on the roster when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56, although he missed the game himself due to a torn ACL. Woods signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and spent one season in Nashville before signing his two-year contract with the Texans.

Woods finished his career with 683 catches for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns.