Xavier Woods Bio
Xavier Woods (born July 26, 1995) is an American professional football safety who plays in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft after a standout college career at Louisiana Tech University. Over the course of his NFL tenure, Woods has played for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Tennessee Titans, establishing himself as a reliable defensive back known for his tackling and ball-hawking skills.
Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 200 pounds, Woods has built a reputation as a hard-hitting safety with strong coverage instincts and the versatility to line up across the defensive secondary. He is recognized for his durability, having started 17 games in multiple seasons, and for producing career-high tackle totals during his time with the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.
Early Life and Background
Xavier Woods was born on July 26, 1995, in Monroe, Louisiana. He grew up in the same city and attended West Monroe High School, where he first developed his passion for competitive football. As a freshman, he lined up at wide receiver, but he soon transitioned to the defensive side of the ball, where his physical tools and instincts stood out.
During his sophomore season at West Monroe High School, Woods moved to defensive back and intercepted six passes, returning two of those picks for touchdowns. The following year, he helped his team capture the 2011 football state championship while posting 43 tackles, 5 interceptions, and contributions on offense and special teams. As a senior, he earned All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana, and All-District honors, and he also played basketball.
Path to American Football
Woods accepted a football scholarship from Louisiana Tech University, where he played for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from 2013 to 2016. As a true freshman, he started 10 of 12 games at free safety, recording 61 tackles and 2 passes defensed. His strong debut hinted at the consistent production that would follow across his college career.
During his sophomore season, Woods tallied 71 tackles, 7 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, and 6 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in a win over the University of Illinois in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Although his junior numbers dipped slightly, he rebounded as a senior with 89 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 6 passes defensed. By the end of his college career, Woods had collected 181 tackles, 14 interceptions (third in school history), 18 passes defensed, 4 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 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
Dallas Cowboys Era (2017–2020)
The Dallas Cowboys selected 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. On May 11, 2017, he signed a four-year, $2.55 million rookie contract. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games with four starts, finishing with 42 combined tackles, 3 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and one interception, while also contributing on special teams.
In 2018, Woods became the starting free safety after Byron Jones moved to cornerback. He recorded 56 combined tackles, 9 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble in 14 starts. That season, the Cowboys won the NFC East with a 10-6 record and advanced to the Divisional Round, where Woods started in both playoff games. He continued as a starter in 2019, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a two-interception performance against the New York Giants. In 2020, he started 15 games under new head coach Mike McCarthy and finished with 72 combined tackles.
Minnesota Vikings Season (2021)
On March 30, 2021, the Minnesota Vikings signed Woods to a one-year, $1.75 million contract. Head coach Mike Zimmer named him the starting free safety, pairing him with veteran strong safety Harrison Smith. Woods started all 17 games for the first time in his career and delivered a career-best season statistically.
He recorded 108 combined tackles, a career-high 10 pass deflections, 3 interceptions, 1 sack, and a forced fumble. His first career sack came against the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 8 contest against his former team, when he dropped Cooper Rush for a three-yard loss and forced a fumble. He earned an overall grade of 66.4 from Pro Football Focus in 2021.
Carolina Panthers Tenure (2022–2024)
On March 16, 2022, the Carolina Panthers signed Woods to a three-year, $15 million contract. Under head coach Matt Rhule, he started 15 games and posted 86 combined tackles, 6 pass deflections, and 2 fumble recoveries. In 2023, he played 14 games with 14 starts, recording 61 combined tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery, earning a career-high 80.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 12th among qualifying safeties.
Woods entered 2024 as the starting strong safety under head coach Dave Canales. He started all 17 games and set career highs with 119 combined tackles and 3 interceptions, while also adding 6 pass deflections. His steady presence anchored the Panthers’ secondary throughout the season.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025)
On March 14, 2025, the Tennessee Titans signed Woods to a two-year, $8 million contract with $3.49 million guaranteed. He took over a starting role in the Titans’ secondary and played in 11 games with 10 starts during the 2025 NFL season. During that span, he recorded 39 tackles, one sack, 3 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions.
On December 16, Woods was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers. He was released by the Titans on February 25, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Woods is recognized for his physical tackling in the box and his reliability in run support. He pairs that physicality with sharp route recognition in coverage, allowing him to break on passes and generate interceptions. His versatility has allowed defensive coordinators to deploy him at both free safety and strong safety, and his durability has made him a dependable three-down defender when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Woods recorded a clutch overtime-forcing interception against the Houston Texans in 2018, earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2019, and registered his first career sack against his former Dallas Cowboys teammates in 2021. He also posted back-to-back career-high tackle totals of 108 (2021) and 119 (2024).
Xavier Woods Career Wins
While Woods plays a defensive position where individual statistics matter more than win tallies, his career has been marked by consistent production across multiple teams. Through the 2025 NFL season, he has accumulated 660 total tackles, 2 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 50 pass deflections, and 15 interceptions in the regular season. He started in two playoff games during the 2018 postseason with the Dallas Cowboys.
NFL Highlights
Woods’ first NFL interception came in 2017 against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. His most productive single season statistically came in 2021 with the Minnesota Vikings, when he recorded career highs in tackles (108) and pass deflections (10). He matched that career-high interception total three times across his career, most recently in 2024 with the Carolina Panthers.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Woods earned First-team All-Conference USA honors three consecutive years (2014, 2015, 2016). He also helped West Monroe High School win the 2011 Louisiana football state championship during his junior season.
Xavier Woods Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Woods grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, and attended West Monroe High School, where he developed his football skills before earning a scholarship to Louisiana Tech University.
Personal Life
Xavier Woods was born and raised in Monroe, Louisiana. He has spent his professional career across multiple NFL cities, beginning in Dallas and continuing through Minnesota, Charlotte, and Nashville.
2025 Season Performance
Xavier Woods began the 2025 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans after signing a two-year contract in March. He earned the starting role and contributed 39 tackles, one sack, 3 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions across 11 games and 10 starts before a hamstring injury ended his season in mid-December.
Despite his individual production, Woods’ season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on December 16 following a Week 15 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The Titans ultimately decided to part ways with Woods when he was released on February 25, 2026, concluding his two-year deal early.
Looking ahead, Woods remains an experienced veteran safety whose track record of durability, tackling, and coverage instincts should generate interest from teams seeking secondary help heading into the next league year.
