Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Robert Woods announced his retirement from professional football on Tuesday via a heartfelt Instagram post. In his message, Woods expressed gratitude to the Steelers along with the other teams he represented throughout his career, acknowledging the chance they provided him to pursue his dream at the highest level.
At 33 years old, Woods’ time with the Steelers was notably brief as he did not participate in a regular-season game. He joined the Pittsburgh roster last offseason and went through training camp, but was waived during the final roster cuts. He returned to the practice squad momentarily before being released on September 2. Following his departure from the Steelers, Woods did not sign with another NFL team, leading to his decision to retire.
Drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills, Woods spent four fruitful seasons in Buffalo before making a significant impact on the Los Angeles Rams. With the Rams, Woods achieved two 1,000-yard seasons and was part of the team that clinched a Super Bowl championship in 2021. His journey included playing for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and the Houston Texans from 2023 to 2024, where he ultimately signed with the Steelers ahead of the last season.
His standout years were with the Rams in 2018 and 2019, during which he recorded 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns, followed by 90 receptions for 1,134 yards and two touchdowns the following season. Although these were his only two career 1,000-yard seasons, Woods consistently proved to be a reliable contributor in the league. In his final season with the Texans, he tallied 20 receptions for 203 yards.
Woods’ brief stint with the Steelers saw him serve as a veteran influence within the receiving corps, as he emphasized the importance of physicality during training camp practices. He concludes his NFL career with impressive totals of 8,233 receiving yards, 683 receptions, and 38 touchdowns. His last recorded catch in the NFL was for four yards during a 2025 preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, marking the end of his professional playing days.
Overall, Robert Woods leaves behind a legacy defined not only by his impressive statistics but also by the leadership and experience he brought to each team he was a part of. His commitment to the game and his teammates will be remembered as he transitions to the next chapter of his life.