Woody Widenhofer
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
January 20, 1943 Butler, Pennsylvania |
| Playing career | |
| 1961–1964 | Missouri |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1969–1970 | Michigan State (DL) |
| 1971 | Eastern Michigan (LB) |
| 1972 | Minnesota (LB) |
| 1973–1978 | Pittsburgh Steelers (LB) |
| 1979–1983 | Pittsburgh Steelers (DC) |
| 1984 | Oklahoma Outlaws |
| 1985–1988 | Missouri |
| 1989–1992 | Detroit Lions (DC) |
| 1993–1994 | Cleveland Browns (LB) |
| 1995–1996 | Vanderbilt (DC) |
| 1997–2001 | Vanderbilt |
| 2003–2004 | Southeastern Louisiana (DC) |
| 2005–2007 | New Mexico State (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 27–71–1 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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Robert "Woody" Widenhofer (born January 20, 1943) is a former college football head coach and longtime assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL). He has been announced as the head coach of the Alabama Blackbirds of the United National Gridiron League, a new minor league that was scheduled to begin play in February 2009, but whose debut has been delayed indefinitely.
Widenhofer is best known for helping the Pittsburgh Steelers "Steel Curtain" defense that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He later served unsuccessful tenures as head coach at the University of Missouri and Vanderbilt University.
Widenhofer attended Riverview High School in Riverview, Michigan, and played linebacker at Missouri from 1961 to 1964 under coach Dan Devine. He went on to receive a master's degree at Michigan State University.
Widenhofer began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State where he coached the defensive line. Widenhofer then moved to Eastern Michigan and Minnesota where he served as linebackers coach. After several years as a college assistant, Widenhofer was hired to coach linebackers for the Steelers in 1973. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1979. By the time he left after the 1983 season, Widenhofer had won four Super Bowls and made the postseason nine times.
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