 Woods with theToronto Argonauts in 2018 | |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1987-01-22)January 22, 1987 (age 38) Macclenny, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Troy |
| Career history | |
| 2010–2011 | Atlanta Falcons* |
| 2011–2016 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2017–2021 | Toronto Argonauts |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
Stats atPro Football Reference  | |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Jonathan "Bear" Woods (born January 22, 1987) is an American former professionalfootballlinebacker who played in theCanadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by theAtlanta Falcons of theNational Football League (NFL) as anundrafted free agent in 2010. He made his professional debut for theMontreal Alouettes (CFL) in 2013 and won aGrey Cup championship with theToronto Argonauts in2017. He playedcollege football atTroy University. In January 2022, he was named head football coach atWetumpka High School inWetumpka, Alabama.
Woods is a native ofMacclenny, Florida and attendedBaker County High School.[1]
Woods was signed by theAtlanta Falcons as anundrafted free agent on April 26, 2010. He was waived on September 2, 2011.
On September 28, 2011, Woods signed with theMontreal Alouettes.[2] Woods did not see any playing time in his first 2 seasons in the CFL; in the 2013 CFL season Woods played on special teams and sparingly on defense. He accumulated 5 defensive tackles and 13 special teams tackles.
The2014 CFL season proved to be a breakout year for Woods, as he finished the year ranked number 2 in tackles with 89 (BC Lions linebackerSolomon Elimimian finished first with 143). He also added an impressive 7 quarterback sacks. He was the East Division nominee for theCFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 2014, winning theJames P. McCaffrey Trophy as consolation.[3] Following his standout season, he signed a three-year extension with the Alouettes on January 2, 2015.[4] Woods missed the vast majority of the2015 season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the second game of the season.[5] Woods returned to being one of the star players on the Al's defense for their2016 season. He played in all 18 regular season games and for the second time in his career finished second in tackles to Elimimian. Woods also had five sacks, three forced fumbles, one of which he recovered, and two interceptions. Just like in 2014, both linebackers were nominated to represent their divisions as the finalists for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.[6] Just like in 2014 Solomon Elimimian once again took home the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award for the 2016 season.[7] On May 29, 2017, at the start of training camp for the 2017 season, the Alouettes announced they had released Woods.[8]
On June 7, 2017, theToronto Argonauts announced they had signed Woods to a contract.[9] He played and started in 17 regular season games and both playoff games, leading the team in defensive tackles. He won his firstGrey Cup championship in the Argonauts'105th Grey Cup victory, posting four defensive tackles in the game. He started the2018 Toronto Argonauts season on the six-game injured list while he recovered from shoulder surgery and would ultimately only play in four games that season, contributing 29 defensive tackles and 2 special teams tackles.[10] On January 28, 2019, Woods and the Argos agreed to a one-year contract extension.[11] However, he was released three days prior to the start of training camp on May 16, 2019.[12] He was then re-signed by the Argonauts to a practice roster agreement on July 29, 2019.[13] He signed a restructured contract on February 26, 2021.[14] Woods ended up missing the season with injury, and in January 2022 marked a career transition by becoming a head coach for Wetumpka High School in Alabama.[15]