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Charles Woodson Assigns Blame for Why He Left Raiders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 1:04 PM ET

The 2000s haven't been kind to the Raiders franchise, but one player who was a bright spot was Charles Woodson. The former first-round pick spent his first eight years with the team and was a First-Team All-Pro twice.

However, the Raiders decided against bringing him back in 2006. He went on to the Green Bay Packers and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and a Super Bowl.

Despite that success in Green Bay, if it were up to him, Woodson would've never left Oakland.

Woodson Places Blame for Why He Left Raiders

Leaving the Raiders may have been the best thing to happen to Woodson's career and legacy, but he was hoping to spend his career with one team. He was recently a guest on the "Da Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch & Mike Robinson," where he revealed who was to blame for him not coming back.

“I never thought I’d leave Oakland. ... If I remember correctly, Mike Lombardi was the GM and he was like, 'There is no value to bringing Charles back to the Raiders,' I was like 'damn, that’s some cold blooded (expletive) to say,'” Woodson said. ... "I wish I would've gone directly and say with Al (Davis)."

Charles Woodson on how it felt leaving Oakland Raiders

“I never thought I’d leave Oakland. Mike Lombardi was the GM & he was like there is no value to bringing Charles back to the Raiders, I was like damn, that’s cold blooded”

“I went straight upstairs to talk to Al Davis” ☠️ pic.twitter.com/QCUPh6Vs0C
— ShifftttyyyQB1‍☠️ (@raiders1022) July 29, 2025

Lombardi Was Fired the Following Year

Lombardi is well-known by NFL fans now as a media personality, but he had a long career as an executive. He spent nine seasons with the Raiders as a senior personnel executive and was essentially the general manager for much of that time.

Though he was the driving force behind the Raiders not bringing Woodson back, he didn't have much time with the team following the move. After the 2006 season ended, Lombardi was fired by the team.

Woodson eventually came back and was able to retire a Raider.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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