Riq Woolen Bio
Tariq “Riq” Woolen (born May 2, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. A tall, athletic cornerback, Woolen quickly emerged as a starter and tied for the league lead in interceptions during his rookie season.
Woolen earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and later became a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks. He has gone on to play a full slate of NFL seasons as a starting cornerback and currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Early Life and Background
Riq Woolen was born on May 2, 1999, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in the same North Texas city that shaped his early life and attended Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. As a high school recruit, he was rated a three-star prospect and drew collegiate interest from several regional programs.
Coming out of Arlington Heights, Woolen chose to play college football at the University of Texas at San Antonio over scholarship offers from North Texas, Houston, and Texas State. His decision to leave Texas for UTSA set the stage for a positional change that ultimately launched his professional career.
Path to American Football
Woolen arrived at UTSA as a wide receiver and redshirted his freshman year before appearing on the field as a redshirt freshman. In that first season of action, he caught 15 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown, showing the raw athleticism that would later catch the eyes of NFL scouts.
He opened his redshirt sophomore year as a starting wide receiver but moved to cornerback after three games. The positional switch proved transformative. By his redshirt junior season, Woolen had become a full-time starter at cornerback, finishing with 35 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four passes broken up, and one interception. As a redshirt senior, he added 25 tackles, five passes broken up, and another interception before accepting an invitation to the 2022 Senior Bowl.
Riq Woolen Career
Early Career (2022)
Woolen entered the NFL Draft process as one of the most athletic defensive backs in his class. At the 2022 NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds, tying for the fourth-fastest time in Combine history and the fastest ever recorded by a player over six feet tall. Pre-draft rankings placed him among the top cornerback prospects, though most analysts projected him as a second- or third-round selection.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Woolen in the fifth round, 153rd overall, making him the second cornerback drafted by the team that year. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $3.99 million that included a $332,216 signing bonus. After a competitive training camp and a late roster trade, head coach Pete Carroll named Woolen the Seahawks’ No. 1 starting cornerback ahead of his rookie season.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2022–2025)
Woolen made an immediate impact as a rookie. He intercepted passes in three consecutive games early in 2022 and became the only rookie in the previous ten seasons to record interceptions in four straight games. That stretch earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 6. He finished his rookie year with 63 combined tackles, 16 pass deflections, and six interceptions, tying for the NFL lead. His play earned him a Pro Bowl selection, a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and a finalist nod for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
As a sophomore in 2023, Woolen remained a full-time starter under defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt and was paired with rookie first-round pick Devon Witherspoon. He played 16 games, recording 53 combined tackles, two interceptions, 11 passes defended, and two fumble recoveries. In 2024, Woolen started 14 of 15 games played, finishing with 46 combined tackles, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions, including a game-sealing pick against the Chicago Bears in Week 17. He closed his Seahawks tenure in 2025 with 41 tackles, one interception, and 12 passes defended, and was part of the team that won Super Bowl LX over the New England Patriots.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2026–Present)
On March 12, 2026, Woolen signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth up to $15 million, beginning a new chapter in his career. The move brought his length and ball skills to a new defensive scheme on the East Coast.
Listed at 6 foot 4 and 210 pounds, Woolen brings rare size to the cornerback position. His combination of height, speed, and ball production has made him one of the more physically gifted cover corners in the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Woolen’s rookie four-game interception streak in 2022 stood out as one of the most impressive early-season runs by a defensive back in recent league history. He is also a Super Bowl champion, having helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX.
Riq Woolen Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Woolen has built a reputation as a ball-hawking cornerback with consistent production in coverage. His teams have secured major milestones, including a Super Bowl championship with Seattle.
NFL Highlights
Woolen tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions as a rookie in 2022 and earned Pro Bowl honors that same year. He is also a Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX roster.
Riq Woolen Family
Personal Life
Riq Woolen was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended Arlington Heights High School. His full name, Tariq Woolen, reflects his family background, though additional public details about his personal life are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Woolen played out the 2025 season as a starting cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, appearing regularly on the outside of the secondary. He finished the year with 41 total tackles, one interception, and 12 passes defended, continuing his strong ball-production profile.
His most significant team accomplishment of 2025 came in the postseason, where Woolen was part of the Seahawks roster that captured Super Bowl LX. He contributed four tackles in the 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots.
Following the championship run, Woolen entered free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year contract. The move positions him for a prominent role in a new defensive system heading into the next NFL season.
