Chris Perkins: Dolphins' Jackson Woodard is a difference-maker on and off the field

Chris Perkins, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Aug 11, 2026

Published in Football

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Every now and then you meet a player who gets your attention because of their outlook on football and life. Ex-Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Kendall Lamm was one of those guys. It was the same for current Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

And now there’s linebacker Jackson Woodard, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound second-year player.

What I noticed first about Woodard, who totaled two tackles in three games for the Dolphins last season after being signed in mid December, was his on-field play. He’s frequently around the ball.

If the Dolphins were to create a 53-man regular-season roster this week, Woodard would probably make it along with Brooks, Tyrel Dodson and rookies Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis and Trey Moore.

But the things that really got my attention about Woodard are his beyond-his-years wisdom and the good vibes that he spreads.

At 24 years old, he’s already learned that if he relaxes and plays within the system instead of yielding to the pressure to make a play, the plays come to him. He also learned, with help from Brooks, to focus on what’s most important in life.

“Last year, being a rookie, I was a little bit in my head about a lot of that stuff, like ‘I’ve got to go make a play. I’ve got to go do this. If the play-call tells me to do this, I still need to make a play,’” Woodard said.

“But really, I think, first of all, just figuring out what matters in life, like football is what I do, but my impact that I make on people, just talking to y’all, my teammates, that’s what truly matters, that took a little bit of that pressure off,” he said.

Expect Woodard to make a few plays this week during joint practice at Washington. More importantly, watch him in Friday’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders. He’ll probably make something happen. It’s what he does.

Woodard flashed last year on special teams. This year he’s elevated his game to the level where he flashes from scrimmage at the best and deepest position on the team.

Woodard had a pick-six (interception return for a touchdown) in Friday’s practice, a blitz that forced an incomplete pass on Thursday, and has also had a pass deflection during the first two weeks of training camp.

“Ever since I was little, I just had this mindset of ‘Wherever the ball’s at, that’s where I’m going to be at,’” he said. “And when I get there, I want to make a pop. So if someone has the ball, I want to explode, make a big play, make a big hit. And then if the ball comes to me, I want to go take it to the end zone.”

Woodard, who attended high school in Little Rock, Ark. appeared in two games with the Houston Texans last season after entering the league with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie from Nevada-Las Vegas.

After bouncing around a bit, he’s hoping to find a home with the Dolphins. It’d be cool if that happened. I asked coach Jeff Hafley about Woodard in June because he got my attention a time or two in organized team activities and minicamp.

“Competitive guy, he’s smart,” Hafley said. “We’ll see when the pads come on and it really goes how it looks, but I’ve been impressed with him.”

I’ve also been impressed.

Last week was the first time I spoke to Woodard. Right away it became obvious he has a mature attitude toward football and life. This is where another connection with Brooks comes in. The first column that I wrote about Brooks focused on his faith. I could tell it was important to him, that it wasn’t fake.

Woodard referenced his faith, Brooks and his parents when I asked where he gets his level-headed outlook on football and life.

“I’m reading Ecclesiastes right now,” Woodard said of the Old Testament book in the Bible. “Sorry to get biblical on you. Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, and he’s talking about all of us just working, working, working, working, but what are we really doing it for? Like, what’s our true passion in it?

“And J.B. has been phenomenal in my life. Jordyn Brooks, phenomenal player, but phenomenal human being, and he’s kind of helped me in realizing we’ve got to just enjoy what we’re doing. Have a spirit within us that just never dies and that loves to be where we’re at, so that’s kind of where I’m at right now.”

Woodard went on to say his parents taught him work ethic.

“They have been very successful,” he said. “They could probably retire right now, but all they do is get up and work, go to work, go to work. And I think my parents instilled it into me like, ‘I’ll never quit. Whatever it is, just keep going, never quit.’ So I’ve been incredibly blessed. Sorry to ramble on this question, but I love that question. I’ve been blessed in more ways than I can really think. And so I think it’s kind of my part to give it back as well.”

To me, the Dolphins would be a better team, on and off the field, if Woodard is on the 53-man roster.

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