Woodrow Lowe

Woodrow Lowe (June 9, 1954 – November 6, 2025) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1986. Lowe played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under head coach Bear Bryant from 1972 to 1975. A three-time, first-team All-American, Lowe earned consensus honors in 1974 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was named to the Chargers' 40th and 50th anniversary teams. After retiring from playing, Lowe coached at the high school, college, and professional levels.

Early life Lowe was born in Columbus, Georgia, on June 9, 1954. He grew up in Phenix City, Alabama, where he started playing football at age 10. Lowe attended Central High School, where he was a standout player and captain of the football team. He was named a first-team All-American in 1973, 1974, and 1975—including a consensus selection in 1974 —and is one of two Crimson Tide players to earn first-team honors three times (the other being Cornelius Bennett). Lowe also played on four Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship teams, and one national championship team (1973) with Alabama. He was named team captain in 1975. Lowe was the first player from Alabama to be drafted by the Chargers. He missed just one game in his 11-year Chargers career, He was particularly adept as a pass defender, racking up 21 interceptions as a Charger, with four being returned for a touchdown.

Lowe was involved in the play known as the "Holy Roller". On September 10, 1978, he was tackling Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler with 10 seconds left in the game. As he was going down, Stabler intentionally fumbled the ball forward, which was eventually picked up and advanced for a touchdown by Dave Casper, leading to a 21–20 win. The play was called "the most zany, unbelievable, absolutely impossible dream of a play" by Raiders' broadcaster Bill King.

In 1979, Lowe had a career-high five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The Chargers advanced to the AFC Championship Game in both 1980 and 1981, but lost both times. He was among the top defenders of those teams,

Coaching career After retiring from playing, Lowe became a football coach. He coached for two years at Russell County High School in Seale, Alabama, Lowe served as head football coach at Selma High School in Selma from 1994 to 1995, compiling a 10–10 record. He then spent six years in the NFL as a defensive assistant. Lowe left the Raiders for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where his mother was undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. On December 30, 2009, he was named the head coach and returned home to his alma mater Central High. He was 33–13 through four seasons when his coaching contract was not renewed in 2014. The team had already completed spring practice and less than 100 days remained before the season opener. While he remained on staff as a physical education teacher, Lowe protested his removal and requested to be reinstated.

Legacy For his impact through athletics as a player and a coach, Lowe was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2009. He was also inducted into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame and the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame.

Personal life Lowe retired around 2019. His brother Eddie also played as a linebacker with the University of Alabama. He later became the mayor of Phenix City.

After a lengthy illness,