Woodrow Lowe

Last updated

Woodrow Lowe
No. 51
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1954-06-09) June 9, 1954 (age 69)
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:227 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school: Central
(Phenix City, Alabama)
College: Alabama (1972–1975)
NFL draft: 1976  / Round: 5 / Pick: 131
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:164
Games started:151
Interceptions:21
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Woodrow Lowe (born June 9, 1954), is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker from 1976 to 1986 for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). Lowe played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Bear Bryant from 1972 to 1975.

Contents

College career

After a stellar career at Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, Lowe enrolled at the University of Alabama in 1972, where he found instant success. Lowe became one of only two Crimson Tide players to be named an All-American three times (the other being Cornelius Bennett) when he was named an All-American in 1973, 1974, and 1975. Lowe also played on four Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship teams, and one national championship team, while he was at Alabama.

Lowe also holds the Alabama record for most tackles in a season, with 134 stops as a sophomore in 1973. He ranks third all-time in tackles at Alabama, with 315 in his career.

San Diego Chargers

After his time at Alabama, Lowe was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the 5th round (131st overall pick) in the 1976 NFL Draft.

In his eleven years in San Diego, Lowe was known largely as the epitome of durability and longevity, because he missed only one game in his entire eleven-year NFL career. Moreover, despite his skills in defending the run, Lowe was particularly adept as a pass defender, which is a bit of a rarity for a linebacker. All told, Lowe racked up 21 interceptions as a Charger, and 4 were returned for a touchdown.

Coaching

After retiring from the NFL, Lowe became a football coach. He spent six years in the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, and eventually returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, a stint which included the Red Devils' 1993 state championship. After spending five years with the UAB Blazers, Lowe moved back to the high school ranks and became the head coach for Central's biggest rival, Smiths Station High School. [1] Lowe was removed from his position at Smiths Station by the Lee County Board of Education in 2008 after compiling a total record of 12 wins and 19 losses in only 3 years as head coach. Lowe was an assistant coach at Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham. [2]

On December 30, 2009 Lowe was named the head coach and returned home to his alma mater, Central High School in Phenix City, AL. He was relieved of his coaching duties in May 2014. [3] He served as head football coach at Selma High School in Selma, AL from 1994 to 1995, compiling a record of 10-10. [4]

Awards

For his impact through athletics as a player and a coach, Lowe was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Personal life

Lowe is the brother of Eddie Lowe, the mayor of Phenix City.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Little</span> American football player and coach (born 1945)

Larry Chatmon Little is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bethune–Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1967. After two years in San Diego, he was then traded to the Miami Dolphins where he played for the rest of his career, establishing himself as one of the best offensive guards in the NFL.

Tony Curtis Nathan is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Dolphins in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft with the 61st overall pick. Nathan played with Miami from 1979 to 1987.

Walter Ray Perkins was an American football coach and player. He played as a wide receiver for the University of Alabama and Baltimore Colts. He later worked as a football coach for 28 years, including stints as the head coach for the New York Giants, the University of Alabama, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Arkansas State University.

Phillip Savage Jr. is an American football executive, author and media personality, who currently serves as the Senior Football Advisor for the New York Jets. In 2019 he was the general manager for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He was the senior vice president and general manager of the Browns from 2005 to 2008. He served as director of player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens under general manager Ozzie Newsome, a former Browns' player and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, from 2003 to 2004. He was a scout for the Browns from 1993 to 1995. He was also the former general manager of the Cleveland Browns and the executive director for the Senior Bowl.Phil Savage also served as the color announcer for The Alabama Crimson Tide alongside Eli Gold for several years with the Crimson Tide Sports Network, and worked as a guest host, for Sirius XM Sports Radio for several years, before joining the NY Jets. Phil Savage was also on ESPN for several years as a guest host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Thomas (American football)</span> American football player and coach (1898–1954)

Frank William Thomas was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Chattanooga from 1925 to 1928 and at the University of Alabama from 1931 to 1946, compiling a career college football record of 141–33–9. During his tenure at Alabama, Thomas amassed a record of 115–24–7 and won four Southeastern Conference titles while his teams allowed an average of just 6.3 points per game. Thomas's 1934 Alabama team completed a 10–0 season with a victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl and was named national champion by a number of selectors.

Monte Leon Coleman is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1994. He was the head football coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lionel James</span> American football player (1962–2022)

Lionel "Little Train" James was an American professional football player who was a running back for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers. Undersized at 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) and 171 pounds (78 kg), he spent his entire five-year NFL career with the Chargers from 1984 to 1988. His best year as a pro came during the 1985 season, when he set then-NFL season records for receiving yards by a running back and all-purpose yardage. He also led the American Football Conference (AFC) in receptions that year.

Theodore John Cottrell is an American football coach and former player. He was formerly the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). In 2009, he served as head coach for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League (UFL). Ten years later, he was the linebackers coach for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and worked as the defensive coordinator for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Polk</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Carlos Devonn Polk is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant special teams coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers and Grossmont College.

Harold Moreland "Hal" Herring was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Auburn University and professionally as a center and linebacker for the Buffalo Bills in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL). He later was a defensive coach at Auburn and for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers.

Ahmaad Galloway was an American football coach and running back.

Lucas J. Butkus is an American football coach and former center who is the offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and the Oregon Ducks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Mauck</span> American football player and coach (born 1947)

Carl Mauck is a former American football player and coach who was a center who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for four teams and later served as an offensive line coach for several teams. Mauck attended Southern Illinois University.

Robert Lanier Jackson is an American former football coach and college player who was a professional assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons, including three as an offensive coordinator. In his NFL tenure, Jackson coached five Pro Bowl running backs, including at least one in three of his five stops where he has tutored the running backs. The list consists of Pro Football Hall of Fame player Marshall Faulk, Stephen Davis, Terry Allen, Brian Mitchell, and Marion Butts.

Eddie Lowe is a former linebacker who played nine seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was recruited in 1983 from the University of Alabama. Eddie Lowe is currently mayor of Phenix City, Alabama. He is the first black mayor of Phenix City.

James Edward Willis III is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and a former coach in the NCAA and in the NFL. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn. He played high school football at J.O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the defensive assistant/linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL until his termination on January 5, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mitchell (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1951)

John Mitchell Jr. is a former American football coach and collegiate player. Over the course of his career, Mitchell has broken several racial barriers, one of which was being the first black player for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He served on the staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1994 until his retirement following the 2022 season.

Jerrell Harris is a former American football linebacker who attended the University of Alabama. Harris was an All-American in high school and was considered one of the better outside linebacker prospects of his class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Kelly (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1967)

Charles Kelly is an American football coach and former football player. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for Auburn Tigers football. Kelly won a national championship as a member of the Florida State Seminoles coaching staff during the 2013 college football season. He also won a College Football Playoff National Championship as the co-defensive coordinator of the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide who went undefeated.

Chris Rumph is an American football coach who is currently the defensive ends coach at Clemson University. He previously served as the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Rumph previously coached at the collegiate level for over 15 years.

References

  1. ↑ "- Login". securesite.schoolinsites.com.
  2. ↑ Beaudry, Paul. "Birmingham youths learn football skills, teamwork in Jackson-Olin camp". The Birmingham News . Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Woodrow Lowe out as Central football coach". ledger-enquirer.
  4. ↑ "Alabama High School Football History". The History of high school football in Alabama.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.