Robert Woods Bio
Robert Thomas Woods (born April 10, 1992) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, winning Super Bowl LVI, and has also played for the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early Life and Background
Robert Thomas Woods was born in Gardena, California on April 10, 1992. He attended Killian Elementary and Curtiss Middle School before enrolling at Junípero Serra High School in Gardena. He is the son of Robert Woods, who played for the Houston Oilers in 1978 and for the Detroit Lions in 1979, giving the young receiver a direct family connection to professional football.
At Junípero Serra, Woods played football and ran track. In his junior year in 2008, he recorded 81 receptions for 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense, while also posting 87 tackles and seven interceptions on defense. In his senior year in 2009, he added 66 catches for 1,112 yards and totaled eight interceptions. His Serra Cavaliers won the CIF Northwestern Division Championship and the CIF Division 3 state championship, finishing 15-0.
As a sprinter, Woods was a 2010 All-USA high school track and field selection, with personal bests of 21.04 seconds in the 200 meters and 46.17 seconds in the 400 meters. Following his senior season, he was recognized as a USA Today high school All-American and played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Rated as the No. 11 overall prospect by Scout.com and the No. 6 overall recruit by Rivals.com, he accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California.
Path to American Football
Woods became an immediate contributor for the USC Trojans as a freshman in 2010, finishing with 65 receptions for 792 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, and leading the Pac-10 in kickoff returns. His sophomore season in 2011 was a breakthrough, with 111 receptions for 1,292 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, leading the Pac-12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns. That year he was named a Consensus All-American and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and Maxwell Award.
As a junior in 2012, Woods earned Second-team All-Pac-12 recognition before declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft. He finished his USC career as a two-time First-team All-Pac-10/Pac-12 selection, working under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Robert Woods Career
Early Career (2013-2016)
The Buffalo Bills selected Woods in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NFL draft and signed him to a four-year, $4.86 million contract. He made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the New England Patriots, catching his first career touchdown on an 18-yard pass from quarterback E. J. Manuel. He finished his rookie year with 40 receptions for 587 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games and starts.
Across four seasons in Buffalo, Woods became a reliable starter alongside Sammy Watkins, setting a career-high 65 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns in 2014. He posted 51 receptions for 613 yards in 2016 before entering free agency.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2013-2016)
Woods developed into a steady contributor for the Bills, working under head coaches Doug Marrone and Rex Ryan. He recorded 47 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns in 2015, and 51 receptions for 613 yards and a touchdown in 2016, even while battling injuries.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2017-2021)
On March 9, 2017, Woods signed a five-year, $34 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams. In his first season, he caught 56 passes for a career-high 781 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games, including a 94-yard touchdown reception against the Houston Texans that set a franchise record for the longest touchdown reception since 1964.
In 2018, Woods posted 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns, reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. He added six catches for 69 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Dallas Cowboys, six catches for 33 yards in the NFC Championship Game victory over the New Orleans Saints, and five catches for 70 yards in Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots. He was ranked 76th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
Woods recorded 90 receptions for 1,134 yards in 2019, and signed a four-year, $65 million contract extension in September 2020. He added 90 receptions for 936 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in 2020, helping the Rams reach the playoffs. On November 12, 2021, Woods tore his ACL during practice, ending his season, but the Rams went on to win Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals with Woods on injured reserve.
Tennessee Titans Era (2022)
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 despite career-low numbers, recording 53 catches for 527 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans released him on February 22, 2023.
Houston Texans Era (2023-2024)
On March 14, 2023, Woods signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans. In the 2023 season, he appeared in 14 games and started 11, finishing with 40 receptions for 426 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. In 2024, he recorded 20 receptions for 203 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025)
On April 28, 2025, Woods signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth $2 million. On August 26, he was released by the Steelers as part of final roster cuts and was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On September 2, Woods requested and was granted his release from the practice squad.
Driving Style and Strengths
Woods is a precise route-runner known for reliable hands and steady production across multiple offensive systems. He excels in intermediate and deep routes, with the toughness to work over the middle and contribute on special teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Woods earned Consensus All-American honors in 2011 and won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams after tearing his ACL earlier that season. He set a Rams franchise record with a 94-yard touchdown reception in 2017 and signed a four-year, $65 million extension in 2020.
Robert Woods Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Woods has recorded a Super Bowl LVI championship with the Los Angeles Rams and has posted multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including 1,219 yards in 2018 and 1,134 yards in 2019.
NFL Highlights
Woods recorded his first multi-touchdown game as a Ram in 2017, finishing with five touchdowns that season. His most recent 1,000-yard campaign came in 2019, when he totaled 90 receptions for 1,134 yards and two touchdowns.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Woods led Junípero Serra to an undefeated 15-0 season and the CIF Division 3 state championship in 2009. At USC, he earned two First-team All-Pac-10/Pac-12 selections and a Consensus All-American nod.
Robert Woods Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Woods is the son of Robert Woods, a former NFL player who suited up for the Houston Oilers in 1978 and the Detroit Lions in 1979. He lost his sister, Olivia, to cancer on April 19, 2007, and her memory inspired him throughout his football journey.
Personal Life
Woods married his longtime partner, Alexandra Barbee, on July 7, 2018. He has spoken publicly about his sister’s influence, mentioning her in his USC commencement speech.
2025 Season Performance
Woods entered 2025 as a free agent after his brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he signed a one-year contract in April and was later released in early September. His release from the Steelers’ practice squad on September 2 left him available to sign with a new team as the regular season progressed.
Throughout the 2025 offseason, Woods remained a veteran presence with more than a decade of NFL experience and a Super Bowl championship on his resume. His ability to play both outside and in the slot made him an attractive depth option for contenders.
Looking ahead, Woods continued to work toward a return to an active roster while contributing as a mentor figure in professional football circles.