A Southern California original and one of the Rams early heroes upon returning to Los Angeles will forever be linked to the organization.
Robert Woods, the former L.A. high school and USC star, is signing a one-day contract with the team to officially retire as a Ram.
Woods came to the Rams in 2017 as a free agent signee from the Bills, who drafted him in the second round of the 2013 draft. His return home marked the Rams second year back in Los Angeles after relocating from St. Louis, and the first year under Sean McVay, who was hired to replace Jeff Fisher.
Woods’ signing along with tackle Andrew Whitworth, and the presence of McVay, helped turn the Rams from a 4-win team in 2016 to a division winner in 2017.
Woods played five years with the Rams and caught 367 passes for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns. The club reached two Super Bowls during Woods’ tenure.
In all, Woods played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Bills, Rams Texans and Titans.
But his most productive seasons were in Los Angeles, including back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards and another of more than 900 yards.
In a social media post on Instagram Woods announced retirement.
“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 playing the sport that has given me everything,” Woods wrote on his Instagram account. “Football has never been a game to me – it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap.”
Woods finishes his career with 683 catches for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Woods was a prep star at Serra High School in Gardena before playing at USC.