Riq Woolen loved watching football movies growing up. "Any Given Sunday," "The Comebacks," "Varsity Blues," "Friday Night Lights," you name it – Woolen has watched it. So, it was no surprise that one of Woolen's first actions upon arriving in Philadelphia was to ask where Mark Wahlberg's character from "Invincible" was.
"I just like the story of him just being a guy, being able to get off the street and come and play football with everybody else," Woolen said after a June minicamp practice. "There's a lot of guys out there on the street that wish they could have the chance just like us, and we get these chances every day."
Woolen is not an average person off the street; in fact, he's not even an average cornerback in the NFL. The Pro Bowl defender stands at a whopping 6-foot-4 with a wingspan measuring just under six feet, seven inches.
How rare is that for a cornerback? In 2025, only one other cornerback (Nahshon Wright of the Bears) was listed as 6-foot-4 alongside Woolen.
"I've been just blessed with amazing gifts," Woolen said. "I've been blessed with the height, the length, and speed. It's pretty cool to be recognized by that, but at the same time ... I still got to go out there and produce and do the right things and use my gifts the right way."
Woolen's athleticism has never been in question. He was a wide receiver for his first few years in college before converting to cornerback. The Roadrunner lived up to his college mascot name by running a 4.26 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. As a prospect out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Woolen was seen as a raw prospect with great tangibles that most likely needed time to develop given the fact only had two years of college experience playing the position. With his potential evident, Woolen was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks.
It turned out that the Day 3 pick didn't need as much time to develop as Draft experts thought. Woolen put his gifts to work his rookie year, co-leading the NFL in interceptions (6) and earning selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Woolen continued being a productive cornerback through his four years in Seattle, cumulating in a Super Bowl LX ring last season as part of one of the NFL's best defenses. On the way to the victory, Woolen recorded his fourth consecutive season with 10+ passes defended in 2025. In fact, Woolen is tied for second-most passes defended (53) since entering the league in 2022.
Entering free agency this offseason, the Eagles needed to find another outside corner to pair with Quinyon Mitchell. Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman found his solution in Woolen, signing the 27-year-old to a one-year deal. The Philadelphia secondary now boasts three former PFWA All-Rookie Team selections: Woolen (2022). Mitchell (2024), and Cooper DeJean (2024).
"We can be one of the best secondary groups in the league," Woolen said. "We all are confident about that. These guys have showed that with their work, I showed it with the work I put in. So, being able to join them, the sky is the limit and I feel like we can be one of the best groups in the NFL."
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio will be essential in the secondary reaching its potential. Not only is the Eagles' defensive back room one of the youngest in the NFL, but the whole defense is as well.
"He just puts us in the right places and he lets us play to our strengths. Just being in his defense, you're going to grow a lot," Woolen said of Fangio. "I'm still picking up on new things. I still got to get more into the playbook, certain plays, just got to learn and buy into it even more. But I feel like I've been doing well. My teammates, they trust me ... and I just got to keep building off the work I've been putting in."
Woolen has been "doing well" this offseason for the Eagles, showing off his 4.26 speed by intercepting a pass intended for Dallas Goedert and running it the other way during a June minicamp practice. Just as Woolen has left a strong first impression with the Eagles, the Eagles have left a strong impression on Woolen.
"From the team and organization, you can just tell there's a lot of history, a lot of winning, a lot of competing," Woolen said. "Just being here with these guys, it's honestly been a lot of fun. I've been working real hard, and there's not a shortness for greatness throughout this building.
"God's plan was to put me here with a great team and give me another chance to win the Super Bowl and be successful here." - Written by Caroline Connor
