David Woodley

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David Woodley
Date of birth	October 25, 1958
Place of birth	Shreveport, Louisiana
Date of death	May 4, 2003
Position(s)	Quarterback
College	LSU
NFL Draft	1980 / Round 8/ Pick 214
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1980-1983 1984-1985	Miami Dolphins Pittsburgh Steelers

David Eugene Woodley (October 25, 1958 – May 4, 2003) was an American football player, playing quarterback for LSU and the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Once he lost his starting job to Dan Marino in 1983, he played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1984-1985). Woodley was known as a scrambling quarterback who had average, at best, passing ability.

He led LSU to 34-10 victory over Wake Forest University in the 1979 Tangerine Bowl. Woodley led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XVII (1983) where they lost to the Washington Redskins 27-17. Woodley was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.

As quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, Woodley is best known as being the man who was the bridge between the eras of Hall of Famers Bob Griese and Dan Marino. Woodley split time in the lineup with backup Don Strock, or "WoodStrock" as they were referred. Woodley was the starter for the Dolphins in their 1981-82 Division Round playoff game versus the San Diego Chargers. After Miami fell to a 24-0 deficit, Dolphins coach Don Shula gave Woodley the hook in favor of Strock who led the Dolphins back into the game.

The following year, Woodley handled the lion's share of the time at QB en route to Miami winning the AFC Title in a strike-shortened season and to face the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII. Despite starting the game well with a 76-yard TD pass to Jimmy Cefalo, Woodley would struggle as the game went on, going 0 for 8 in the second half, as Miami lost to the Redskins 27-17.

In 1983, Woodley was the starting quarterback, but amidst a struggling offense, Shula benched Woodley midway through week 5 in favor of rookie Dan Marino. By the next week, Marino was denoted as the starter and Woodley found himself third on the depth chart behind Marino and Strock. Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers that off-season, Woodley faced his former team, although any chance at revenge was thwarted when he was forced out of the game with a concussion. He appeared in spot duty over two seasons with the Steelers before being released after the 1985 season.

David died from complications due to kidney and liver failure on May 4, 2003. [1]

Preceded by Bob Griese	Miami Dolphins Starting Quarterbacks 1980-1982 (alternately with Don Strock)	Succeeded by Dan Marino
Preceded by Cliff Stoudt	Pittsburgh Steelers Starting Quarterbacks 1984	Succeeded by Mark Malone