Xavier Woods Bio
Xavier Woods (born July 26, 1995) is an American professional football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft and played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing 91 kilograms, Woods has built a career as a reliable defensive back across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Xavier Woods was born on July 26, 1995, in Monroe, Louisiana. He grew up in the same community and attended West Monroe High School, where he first developed his skills as a multi-sport athlete. In addition to football, he also played basketball during his high school years.
As a freshman, Woods played wide receiver before switching to defensive back as a sophomore, a move that shaped his future on the gridiron. During his sophomore season, he intercepted six passes, including two returned for touchdowns. As a junior, he helped West Monroe win the 2011 football state championship, recording 43 tackles, five interceptions, six receptions for 233 yards, and two punt returns for 60 yards. In his senior year, he earned All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana, and All-District honors, cementing his reputation as one of the top defensive prospects in the region.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Xavier Woods accepted a football scholarship from Louisiana Tech University, where he began his college career at free safety. As a true freshman, he started 10 of 12 games and tallied 61 tackles, including three for loss, along with two passes defensed. His early impact on the Bulldogs defense set the stage for a decorated collegiate career.
Woods built on that foundation as a sophomore, recording 71 tackles, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and six interceptions, including a pick-six in a win over the University of Illinois in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. After a slightly quieter junior season, he returned with a strong senior campaign that featured 89 tackles, five interceptions, and six passes defensed. He graduated as one of the most productive defensive backs in school history, finishing with 181 tackles, 14 interceptions (third in program history), and 325 interception return yards (first in school history). He earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Xavier Woods Career
Pre-Draft and Draft (2017)
Entering the 2017 NFL Draft, Xavier Woods was one of 60 defensive backs invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he finished seventh among safeties in the 40-yard dash. At Louisiana Tech’s pro day on March 23, 2017, he improved his times across the board, running a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, a 2.59-second 20-yard dash, and a 1.58-second 10-yard dash. He had pre-draft visits with the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and analysts projected him as a fourth-to-sixth round selection. DraftScout.com ranked him as the seventh-best strong safety in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2017–2020)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Xavier Woods in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2017 NFL draft, trading a 2018 fifth-round pick to the New York Jets to acquire the selection used on him. He was the 19th safety drafted that year and signed a four-year, $2.55 million rookie contract on May 11, 2017. He began his rookie season as a backup free safety behind Byron Jones before earning his first career start at strong safety in Week 11 of 2017. He finished his rookie year with 42 combined tackles, three pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and one interception in 16 games and four starts, earning a 78.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
In 2018, Woods became the full-time starting free safety after Byron Jones transitioned to cornerback. He recorded 56 combined tackles, nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in 14 games. The Cowboys finished 10–6 and won the NFC East, giving Woods his first postseason experience. He started in the NFC Wild Card win over the Seattle Seahawks and recorded eight tackles in a Divisional Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Woods continued to start in 2019, finishing with 77 combined tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 14 games. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting Daniel Jones in a Week 9 win over the New York Giants. In 2020, his final season in Dallas, he started 15 games and posted 72 combined tackles, though his Pro Football Focus grade dropped to 61.9 as the Cowboys struggled defensively.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2021)
On March 30, 2021, the Minnesota Vikings signed Xavier Woods to a one-year, $1.75 million contract. Head coach Mike Zimmer named him the starting free safety opposite Harrison Smith, and he started all 17 games for the first time in his career. He finished the season with career highs of 108 combined tackles and 10 pass deflections, along with three interceptions, one sack, and a forced fumble. His lone sack came against the Dallas Cowboys, when he took down Cooper Rush for a three-yard loss and forced a fumble recovered by Anthony Barr.
Carolina Panthers Era (2022–2024)
On March 16, 2022, the Carolina Panthers signed Xavier Woods to a three-year, $15 million contract. Head coach Matt Rhule named him the starting strong safety alongside Jeremy Chinn, and he finished his first Panthers season with 86 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries in 15 starts. In 2023, he played under new head coach Frank Reich and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, recording 61 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 14 games while earning a career-high 80.3 Pro Football Focus grade.
Woods started all 17 games in 2024 under head coach Dave Canales, posting career highs of 119 combined tackles and a career-high-tying three interceptions, along with six pass deflections. His first interception of the season came against Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in Week 4, and he added two more picks later in the year, including one off Baker Mayfield in a Week 13 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On March 14, 2025, the Tennessee Titans signed Xavier Woods to a two-year, $8 million contract that includes $3.49 million guaranteed and a $2 million signing bonus. He played in 11 games with 10 starts during the 2025 season, recording 39 tackles, one sack, three pass deflections, and two interceptions. On December 16, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Xavier Woods has built his reputation on versatility, having played both free safety and strong safety throughout his career, along with occasional snaps at nickelback and slot cornerback. His football IQ, range in coverage, and willingness to support the run have allowed him to remain a consistent starter across multiple defensive schemes. He has shown a knack for timely interceptions, including game-sealing picks against the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Xavier Woods’s most memorable moments is his late fourth-quarter interception of Colt McCoy that helped the Cowboys secure a Thanksgiving win over the Washington Redskins in 2018. He also earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2019 after a two-interception performance against the New York Giants, and he recorded his first career sack against the Dallas Cowboys while playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.
Xavier Woods Career Wins
Xavier Woods has built a steady professional resume as a starting safety across multiple NFL franchises. While individual win totals vary by team and season, he has been a regular contributor on defenses that have made playoff appearances, including the 2018 Dallas Cowboys team that won the NFC East.
NFL Career Highlights
Woods has posted single-season tackle highs of 119 (2024) and interception highs of three (2021 and 2024). He has also recorded double-digit pass deflections in 2021 and a career-high 80.3 Pro Football Focus grade in 2023. Across his career, he has started more than 100 regular-season games and has remained a full-time starter for every team he has played for since 2018.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Xavier Woods was a three-time First-Team All-Conference USA selection and finished his Louisiana Tech career ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in interceptions and interception return yards. His play in the secondary helped set the foundation for his eventual transition to the NFL.
Xavier Woods Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Limited public information is available about Xavier Woods’s family background. He was raised in Monroe, Louisiana, and attended West Monroe High School, where he developed into a top high school prospect. He has largely kept details about his parents and immediate family out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Xavier Woods’s first year with the Tennessee Titans after signing a two-year, $8 million contract in March. He quickly earned a starting role and finished the year with 39 tackles, one sack, three pass deflections, and two interceptions in 11 games and 10 starts, providing veteran leadership in the Titans’ secondary.
His campaign was cut short in mid-December when he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury sustained in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite the abbreviated season, Woods remained a steady presence in the defensive backfield and contributed to the team’s defensive efforts throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Woods is signed through the 2026 season and is expected to remain a key piece of the Titans’ secondary once healthy. His experience and versatility should continue to make him a valuable asset for the franchise as it builds its defensive identity around veteran leadership and young talent.