Former Raider Rod Woodson Makes Coaching Debut in Vegas

The Vegas Vipers made their XFL debut in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The Vipers fell, 18-6, to the DC Defenders in the club’s first game since being relocated to Sin City.

Not only was it a new beginning for the team, but it was a new start for former Raiders safety Rod Woodson.

When it was revealed that the Vipers would be moving to Las Vegas last summer, it was also announced Woodson would join the club as its new head coach.

Woodson spoke with Sibley Scoles on "Raiders: Talk of the Nation" about his new position and how he approaches the role last month.

“My template in football is Tony Dungy," Woodson said. "He was my first coach in the National Football League, he was my defensive backs coach, my defensive coordinator when I first got to Pittsburgh. So he is my template. I don’t yell, I don’t scream, I don’t cuss at the guys. It’s just a matter-of-fact approach. I think that’s the best approach.

"I think showing love to these young men, that they are special, that they have special qualities is important. Some of them will play in the National Football League. Some will not. That’s just the reality of it. But our goal is to put a good product on the field, but also, hopefully, as we do that, we keep growing these men at being better brothers, better husbands, better sons, better friends, better teammates. And if we can do all that, I think we do put a good product on the field.”

Woodson served as cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders for the 2011 season, assistant cornerbacks coach for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and head cornerbacks coach again for the 2017 season.

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. The club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players is March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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