Canadian Football League linebacker resides in Wetumpka during off-season
During last year’s Canadian Football League Grey Cup, Bear Woods assisted the Toronto Argonauts with an impressive win.
The linebacker had signed with the underdog team in June 2017 and has been playing professional football for nine years.
In the off months, Woods is a family man who enjoys the simple life of Wetumpka, Alabama, where he has settled with his wife and three children, ages 5, 3 and newborn.
“I love the state of Alabama and Elmore County. My family is very into the downtown area – anything going on at Gold Star Park or within walking distance, especially,” said Woods, who is originally from a small, country town in Florida.
After graduating from Troy University where he met his wife, Jennifer, who was a cheerleader at the time, Woods was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons. Jennifer, a Tallassee native, followed suit and cheered alongside him for his two-year stint.
When Woods received a call from the CFL after he was released from the Falcons, he had hoped Jennifer would join him there as well, but with children in the picture, they decided to retain their home base in Wetumpka.
“The CFL is the next best thing to the NFL. I knew some people that had played there, and I was familiar with it but was unsure of all the rules. After seven years though, I’m a little biased,” said Woods.
The CFL is played similarly to the NFL, except the field is bigger and play varies slightly. There are 12 players on the field for every play, which includes an extra receiver and extra defensive back. Another big difference is that there are only three downs in a play instead of four, and receivers can get a head start before the ball is snapped.
“There are some other rules and caveats that make it unique, but it is by far the most entertaining football out there,” Woods added. “There are faster-skilled players, smaller guys are eligible to play, and it’s just a quicker-paced game. You can’t turn the channel on a CFL game.”
With a 20-second play clock and a three-minute warning, a game can take a drastic turn at any moment, explained Woods. There are 18 regular season games, up to three play-off games and two pre-season games that run from June to November.
“From when I left Troy in 2009, so many more people keep up with the CFL now than what they did years ago,” said Woods.
Every CFL game could be watched on ESPN2 weekly with DirecTV, Dish or Comcast; or online at ESPN3.
After a few injuries, including a broken hand and hyper-extended hip, along with back surgery recovery, Woods’ missteps along the way have only made his accomplishments that much sweeter. When the Argonauts played in the Grey Cup, Woods didn’t realize its significance until afterward.
“At the moment, it was just another football game for me because I was the older veteran in the locker room. Looking back at it, it was such an epic experience,” Woods said. “We were the worst team in the league to win the Grey Cup.”
When the Argonauts entered the field that day, the snow was so intense that the players could barely see 15 feet in front of them and couldn’t see the stands at all, he said.
“I felt like a little kid out there getting to play in that environment,” Woods added.
While Woods’ family typically joins him from June to November in Canada, with his oldest daughter starting kindergarten this year, they had to remain in Wetumpka.
“We stay very active down in Wetumpka. The off-season has been tremendous for my family and me and has given us a quality of life like no other. I get to spend seven months of the year with my kids, which is incredible,” the father of three added.
Woods said they chose Wetumpka for its proximity to his wife’s family, along with the easy access to Montgomery.
Aside from quality time with family and friends, Woods stays in shape during the off-season and enjoys hunting and fishing. He also plays some guitar and is very involved in the First Baptist Church of Tallassee, teaching Sunday school and volunteering where needed.
“We all love the game of football, but football loves nobody. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. You learn to appreciate every chance you get to play in a game,” said Woods. “It’s just a kid’s game getting to tackle grown men for a living.”
