Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, concluding a 13-year career, and promptly signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of his hometown team.
The Rams confirmed Woods’s decision, stating he will officially retire as a Ram, a franchise he helped revitalize during a pivotal period in the team’s history. Woods shared his decision via social media, expressing gratitude for the sport and the opportunities it provided. “It’s time for me to step away from the sport that has given me everything,” Woods wrote. “Football has never just 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.”
The 33-year-old Woods, a Southern California native and graduate of Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California, established himself as an All-American at the University of Southern California before being drafted into the NFL. He spent his initial four seasons with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Rams in 2017.
Woods’s arrival in Los Angeles coincided with a transformative era for the franchise, marked by the hiring of head coach Sean McVay, the acquisition of left tackle Andrew Whitworth, and the drafting of receiver Cooper Kupp. During his five seasons with the Rams (2017-2021), Woods recorded 367 receptions for 4,626 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns, achieving the only two 1,000-yard receiving seasons of his career. He became a key component of the Rams’ offense, providing a reliable target alongside Kupp and contributing to the team’s return to playoff contention.
The Rams ended a lengthy playoff drought during Woods’s tenure, reaching the postseason four times, winning two NFC West titles, and securing two NFC Championship titles. He was a participant in Super Bowl LVI, though sidelined due to injury, as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. Prior to Woods’s arrival, the Rams had not experienced a winning season since 2003.
In 2021, Woods suffered a torn knee ligament during practice, prematurely ending his season. The Rams subsequently traded him to the Tennessee Titans following the Super Bowl victory, and he later spent two seasons with the Houston Texans. He attended training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers last summer but did not make the final roster.
“This game gave me memories, brotherhood and a legacy I am forever proud of,” Woods stated in his retirement post. “I walk away deeply grateful and fulfilled.” Woods remains USC’s all-time leader in receptions with 252 and ranks second in school history with 32 touchdown catches.