David Woodley's road to the Super Bowl began in Shreveport. Born in the city on October 25, 1958, he spent three years as the starting quarterback at C. E. Byrd High School, earned all-state honors, and graduated in 1976 before heading to LSU.
C. E. Byrd High School and LSU
Woodley was the fifth of seven children in a Shreveport family and a three-year starter and all-state quarterback at Byrd. At LSU he shared time under coach Charlie McClendon, and in his final college game he was named MVP of the 1979 Tangerine Bowl, a 34–10 win over Wake Forest.
From eighth-round pick to the Super Bowl
Miami took Woodley in the eighth round of the 1980 NFL Draft (No. 214 overall). He began that season fourth on the depth chart and ended it as the Dolphins' team MVP. In the strike-shortened 1982 season he took most of the snaps as Miami won the AFC championship.
In Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl he was 24, at the time the youngest quarterback ever to start a Super Bowl, and he opened the scoring with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo. Washington won 27–17, with John Riggins named MVP.
Pittsburgh and home
Woodley later played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1984 and 1985, the seasons right after fellow Shreveport native Terry Bradshaw retired. He returned to Shreveport after football and died there on May 4, 2003, at age 44.
Watch: David Woodley
David Woodley’s Super Bowl starts
| Super Bowl | Date | Result | Site · Game MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl XVII | Jan. 30, 1983 | L · Washington 27, Dolphins 17 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena · MVP: John Riggins |